PILOT EVALUATION OF HYPNOTIC MEDICATION DURING ACUTE TRAUMATIC STRESS-RESPONSE

Early intervention aimed at secondary prevention is a high priority fo r posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research. Disrupted sleep may h ave a role in the initiation and maintenance of PTSD. Three of the par ticipants were recruited from a surgical trauma service, and one had s ought treatment in a psychiatric setting. All were within 1-3 weeks of trauma exposure and had acute PTSD symptoms that included disturbed s leep. Temazepam, a benzodiazepine hypnotic, was administered for 5 nig hts, tapered for 2 nights, and then discontinued. Evaluations 1-week a fter the medication had been discontinued revealed improved sleep and reduced PTSD severity. These observations suggest an approach that may be clinically useful and a need for more systematic trials.