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 .
Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of Sertraline in Military Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of civilian posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) has been established by two large placebo-controlled trials . The purpose of the current pilot study was to obtain preliminary evidence of the efficacy of sertraline in military veterans suffering from PTSD . Outpatient Israeli military veterans with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of PTSD were r and omized to 10 weeks of double-blind treatment with sertraline ( 50–200 mg/day ; N = 23 , 83 % male , mean age = 41 years ) or placebo ( N = 19 , 95 % male , mean age = 38 years ) . Efficacy was evaluated by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale ( CAPS-2 ) and by Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity ( CGI-S ) and -Improvement ( CGI-I ) ratings . Consensus responder criteria consisted of a 30 % or greater reduction in the CAPS-2 total severity score and a CGI-I rating of “ much ” or “ very much ” improved . The baseline CAPS-2 total severity score was 94.3 ± 12.9 for sertraline patients , which is notably higher than that reported for most studies of civilian PTSD . On an intent-to-treat endpoint analysis , sertraline showed a numeric but not statistically significant advantage compared with placebo on the CAPS-2 total severity and symptom cluster scores . In the study completer analysis , the mean CGI-I score was 2.4 ± 0.3 for sertraline and 3.4 ± 0.3 for placebo ( t = 2.55 , df = 30 , p = 0.016 ) , CGI-I responder rates were 53 % for sertraline and 20 % for placebo ( χ2 = 3.62 , df = 1 , p = 0.057 ) , and combined CGI-I and CAPS-2 responder rates ( ≥30 % reduction in baseline CAPS-2 score ) were 41 % for sertraline and 20 % for placebo ( χ2 = 1.39 , df = 1 , p = 0.238 ) . Sertraline treatment was well tolerated , with a 13 % discontinuation rate as a result of adverse events . This pilot study suggests that sertraline may be an effective treatment in patients with predominantly combat-induced PTSD , although the effect size seems to be somewhat smaller than what has been reported in civilian PTSD studies . Adequately powered studies are needed to confirm these results and to assess whether continued treatment maintains or further improves response
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 .