Of the medication classes , evidence of treatment efficacy was most convincing for the SSRIs .
In addition , medication was superior to placebo in reducing  comorbid depression and disability .
Medication was also less well tolerated than placebo .
A narrative review of the 3 maintenance trials suggested that long-term medication may be required in treating PTSD .
CONCLUSION Medication treatments can be effective in treating PTSD , acting to reduce its core symptoms , as well as associated depression and disability , and should be considered as part of the treatment of this disorder .
The findings of this review support the status of SSRIs as first-line agents in the pharmacotherapy of PTSD , as well as their value in longterm treatment .
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is a prevalent and disabling condition .
Evidence that PTSD is characterized by specific psychobiological dysfunctions has contributed to a growing interest in use of medication in its treatment .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of medication in the treatment of PTSD .
Olanzapine in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a pilot study
Because the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine may be efficacious in treating post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) symptoms , we conducted a 10-week , double-blind , placebo-controlled evaluation in which 15 patients were r and omized 2 : 1 to either  olanzapine or placebo . The initial dosage was 5 mg/day and was titrated to a maximum of 20 mg/day . Eleven patients completed the study . Patients in both groups showed improvement in PTSD symptoms , but no between-group differences in treatment response were observed and a high placebo response rate was found . Both treatments were tolerated well , although the olanzapine treatment group had more weight gain . Olanzapine fared no better than placebo in this preliminary study in the treatment of PTSD . The lack of difference between olanzapine and placebo may in part be due to olanzapine 's not being effective in PTSD or , alternatively , a small sample size , a high placebo response in certain forms of PTSD and the chronicity of PTSD symptoms in some patients
Of the medication classes , evidence of treatment efficacy was most convincing for the SSRIs .
In addition , medication was superior to placebo in reducing  comorbid depression and disability .
Medication was also less well tolerated than placebo .
A narrative review of the 3 maintenance trials suggested that long-term medication may be required in treating PTSD .
CONCLUSION Medication treatments can be effective in treating PTSD , acting to reduce its core symptoms , as well as associated depression and disability , and should be considered as part of the treatment of this disorder .
The findings of this review support the status of SSRIs as first-line agents in the pharmacotherapy of PTSD , as well as their value in longterm treatment .
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is a prevalent and disabling condition .
Evidence that PTSD is characterized by specific psychobiological dysfunctions has contributed to a growing interest in use of medication in its treatment .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of medication in the treatment of PTSD .