RESULTS BZDs are ineffective for PTSD treatment and prevention , and risks associated with their use tend to outweigh potential short-term benefits .
In addition to adverse effects in general population s , BZDs are associated with specific problems in patients with PTSD : worse overall severity , significantly increased risk of developing PTSD with use after recent trauma , worse psychotherapy outcomes , aggression , depression , and substance use .
The results of this systematic review suggest that BZDs should be considered relatively contraindicated for patients with PTSD or recent trauma .
OBJECTIVE Although benzodiazepines ( BZDs ) are commonly used in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , no systematic review or meta- analysis has specifically examined this treatment .
The goal of this study was to analyze and summarize evidence concerning the efficacy of BZDs in treating PTSD .
Treatment of recent trauma survivors with benzodiazepines: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND Most types of psychotropic drugs have been tried in the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , but have yielded limited results . Theory and retrospective research predict that early treatment may be more efficacious . Specifically , high-potency benzodiazepines have been recommended for the treatment of acute responses to trauma and for prevention of PTSD . This study prospect ively evaluates the effect of early administration of benzodiazepines on the course of PTSD and PTSD symptoms . METHOD Thirteen trauma survivors ( the benzodiazepine group ) were treated within 6.7 + /- 5.8 days after the trauma ( range , 2 - 18 ) with either clonazepam ( N = 10 , 2.7 + /- 0.8 mg/day ) or alprazolam ( N = 3 , 2.5 mg/day ) . Thirteen other trauma survivors , pair-matched with subjects in the active treatment group for gender and symptom severity in the first week after the trauma , constitute the control group . Both groups were reevaluated 1 and 6 months after the trauma for PTSD symptoms ( Horowitz Impact of Event Scale ; Mississippi Rating Scale for Combat-Related PTSD-civilian trauma version ) , PTSD status ( Clinician Administered PTSD Scale ) , state anxiety , depression , and resting heart rate . RESULTS Subjects in the benzodiazepine group did not differ from controls in 1-month and 6-month PTSD and anxiety scores . Repeated measures ANOVA showed no group or group-by-time effect on psychometric measures . A trend toward group-by-time interaction in resting heart rate was noted ( progressive decrease in the benzodiazepine group ) . Nine benzodiazepine subjects and 3 controls met PTSD diagnostic criteria 6 months after the trauma . CONCLUSION Contrary to expectations , the early administration of benzodiazepines to trauma survivors with high levels of initial distress did not have a salient beneficial effect on the course of their illness , while reducing physiologic expression of arousal
RESULTS BZDs are ineffective for PTSD treatment and prevention , and risks associated with their use tend to outweigh potential short-term benefits .
In addition to adverse effects in general population s , BZDs are associated with specific problems in patients with PTSD : worse overall severity , significantly increased risk of developing PTSD with use after recent trauma , worse psychotherapy outcomes , aggression , depression , and substance use .
The results of this systematic review suggest that BZDs should be considered relatively contraindicated for patients with PTSD or recent trauma .
OBJECTIVE Although benzodiazepines ( BZDs ) are commonly used in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , no systematic review or meta- analysis has specifically examined this treatment .
The goal of this study was to analyze and summarize evidence concerning the efficacy of BZDs in treating PTSD .