Nov. 30, 2001 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers expect thousands of people will be affected by post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of the attacks on Sept. 11. New research published in the December issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry offers hope.
One study reported shows the antidepressant paroxetine is effective in treating the symptoms of chronic PTSD. Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and has been approved for the treatment of other disorders. Randall Marshall, M.D., from Columbia University, is quoted as saying, "This study is the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate that an SSRI effectively ameliorates each of the major symptom clusters of PTSD."
A second study in the same issue shows the efficacy of sertraline in preventing PTSD relapse. Sertraline is also an SSRI. Of nearly 100 patients studied, who had spent an average of 13 years with PTSD, sertraline was significantly more effective than a placebo and reduced the likelihood of recurrence by six times. Jonathan Davidson, M.D., from Duke University Medical Center, is quoted as saying, "This is an important finding in light of the established chronicity of PTSD."
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, or violent personal assaults. It is marked by biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. According to the National Center for PTSD, nearly 8 percent of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. About 3.6 percent of U.S. adults ages 18 to 54 have PTSD in the course of a given year.
SOURCE: American Journal of Psychiatry , 2001, 158:1982-1988 and 1974-1981
2001 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.