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Anticonvulsants to treat post‐traumatic stress disorder
Author(s) -
Wang Hee Ryung,
Woo Young Sup,
Bahk WonMyong
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2425
Subject(s) - traumatic stress , medicine , psychology , psychiatry
Objective We reviewed the existing literature on the efficacy of anticonvulsants in treating post‐traumatic stress disorder. Methods We performed a literature search using PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane database on 30 September 2013. Randomized, controlled studies that investigated the efficacy of anticonvulsants for post‐traumatic stress disorder were included in this review. Studies with retrospective designs, case reports and case series were excluded. Results A total of seven studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Three studies used topiramate with negative findings regarding its efficacy. Two studies used divalproex, both of which failed to show superiority over placebo. One study used lamotrigine, with favourable results, and one study used tiagabine, with negative results. Conclusions Future long‐term studies with larger sample sizes are needed to investigate the clinical utility of anticonvulsants for post‐traumatic stress disorder treatment. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.