Residual symptoms of PTSD following Sertraline plus enhanced medication management, Sertraline plus PE, and PE plus placebo.

Abstract

Although prolonged exposure (PE) and SSRI antidepressants are effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), previous studies have shown that some symptoms tend to persist. The current study compared sertraline hydrochloride plus enhanced medication management (EMM), PE plus placebo, or PE plus sertraline hydrochloride in the likelihood of each individual PTSD symptom persisting in veterans with a PTSD diagnosis. We compared the likelihood of individual PTSD symptoms persisting in those with versus without a PTSD diagnosis at posttreatment. We found no significant differences across conditions in which symptoms were likely to persist posttreatment. Among those without a PTSD diagnosis at posttreatment, sleeping difficulties (63.0%), hypervigilance (47.3%), and nightmares (45.0%) were most likely to persist. Findings indicate no consistent differences in residual symptoms between PE and medications, and shared decision making with patients is encouraged in selecting treatments. Gold standard treatments (e.g., CBT-I) may be warranted for residual symptoms like insomnia.

• Authors: Jessica C Tripp, Sonya B Norman, H Myra Kim, Margaret R Venners, Brian Martis, Naomi M Simon, Murray B Stein, Carolyn B Allard, Sheila A M Rauch, PROGrESS Study Team
• Journal: Psychiatry research (Psychiatry Res) Vol. 291 Pg. 113279 (09 2020) ISSN: 1872-7123 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 32763541 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Sertraline

Topics

• Adult
• Antidepressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Combined Modality Therapy (methods, trends)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Humans
• Implosive Therapy (methods, trends)
• Male
• Medication Therapy Management (trends)
• Middle Aged
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Sertraline (therapeutic use)
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic (diagnosis, psychology, therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Veterans (psychology)