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 .
Lack of efficacy for fluoxetine in PTSD: a placebo controlled trial in combat veterans.
BACKGROUND Fluoxetine and placebo were studied in a population of combat veterans with severe , chronic PTSD . METHODS Twelve male veterans with PTSD were enrolled in a 12 week double-blind evaluation of fluoxetine and placebo . Mean fluoxetine dose at endpoint ( week 12 ) was 48 mg/day with a range of 10 mg to 60 mg . RESULTS One fluoxetine patient responded ( 17 % ) and two of the six placebo patients responded ( 33 % ) . CONCLUSIONS Fluoxetine patients did not show a greater response than placebo patients in this small sample of male combat veterans with severe , chronic PTSD . Fluoxetine has displayed an efficacious response in controlled studies of patients with PTSD who were predominantly female , suffered civilian ( noncombat ) traumas , and were overall experiencing less severe PTSD . The reasons for the low response rate to fluoxetine in our study is unknown and will await further study examining variables other than symptoms that might influence outcome , such as gender , comorbidity , prior treatment history , trauma type , severity and chronicity
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 .