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 .
A preliminary study of risperidone in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder related to childhood abuse in women.
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the effectiveness of risperidone in women for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) related to childhood physical , sexual , verbal , and emotional abuse . METHOD Subjects were outpatient adult women , aged 18 to 64 years , with chronic PTSD related to childhood physical , sexual , verbal , or emotional abuse . Data were collected from November 18 , 2001 , to June 7 , 2003 . Subjects met DSM-III-R criteria for PTSD and criteria for PTSD on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale , 1-month version ( CAPS-1 ) . Subjects were r and omly assigned to receive risperidone ( N = 12 ) in flexible daily dosages in the range of 0.5 to 8 mg or placebo ( N = 9 ) for 8 weeks . The primary outcome measures were changes in score from baseline on the CAPS-1 and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale , 1-week version ( CAPS-2 ) . RESULTS Risperidone-treated patients had a significantly greater reduction in total score on the CAPS-2 ( z = -2.44 , p = .015 ) . Risperidone-treated patients also had significantly greater reductions in the intrusive ( z = -5.71 , p < .001 ) and hyperarousal ( z = -2.74 , p = .006 ) subscale scores of the CAPS-2 . CONCLUSION The results of the current study indicate that low-dosage risperidone is a safe and effective treatment for intrusive and hyperarousal symptoms in adult women with chronic PTSD from childhood physical , sexual , verbal , and emotional abuse
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 .