TREATMENT OF POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER WITH NEFAZODONE

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are useful in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but have a number of side-effec ts which limit their acceptability. A newer serotonergic compound, nef azodone, has a different side-effect profile, thus making it a potenti ally promising compound to study. Seventeen private practice patients with PTSD were treated with nefazodone up to 600 mg/day for a maximum total treatment period of 12 weeks. All subjects were civilians, and w ere monitored for efficacy and side effects at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12. Nefazodone was associated with statistically significant improvem ent in mean scores on all six rating scales used to assess change from baseline in PTSD symptoms. Additionally, statistically significant im provement from baseline were seen for the intrusive, avoidant/numbing, and hyperarousal clusters on a global PTSD scale. Early improvements in nightmares and general sleep disturbance were observed. Overall, th ere was a 43% response rate at endpoint, or 60% in treatment completer s, by observer rating. Side-effects (assessed on the Medication Effect s Scale) were generally benign. Nefazodone was associated with clinica l improvement in this population, and now needs to be studied in doubl e-blind, placebo controlled, protocols. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 13:11 1-113 (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.