Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Keywords: PTSD anxiety disorders trauma
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 37
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This randomized controlled trial evaluates efficacy of combined prolonged exposure (PE) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine in the treatment of survivors of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks.

Detailed description:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication is often recommended in combination with cognitive behavioral therapies for PTSD, but combined initial treatment of PTSD has not been studied under controlled conditions. Also, there are few studies of either treatment in survivors of terrorism. This randomized controlled trial evaluates efficacy of combined prolonged exposure (PE) and the SSRI paroxetine in the treatment of survivors of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks.

Arms:
arm 1: Paroxetine and Prolonged Exposure Therapy arm 2: Placebo pill plus Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Interventions: intervention 1: Paroxetine intervention 2: Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Paroxetine (controlled release) 12.5-50 milligrams (mg) daily for 22 weeks intervention 2: Weekly for 10 weeks

Protocol document: