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Post‐traumatic stress disorder: a review of psychobiology and pharmacotherapy
Author(s) -
Hageman I.,
Andersen H. S.,
Jørgensen M. B.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2001.00237.x
Subject(s) - serotonergic , behavioral neuroscience , pharmacotherapy , reuptake inhibitor , fluoxetine , psychology , tricyclic , sertraline , anticonvulsant , psychiatry , fluvoxamine , medicine , antidepressant , pharmacology , serotonin , epilepsy , anxiety , receptor
Objective: To review the literature on the psychobiology and pharmacotherapy of PTSD. Method: Relevant studies were identified by literature searches (Pub‐med, web of science) and through reference lists. The search was ended by May 2001. Results: There is evidence of involvement of opioid, glutamatergic, GABAergic, noradrenergic, serotonergic and neuroendocrine pathways in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Medications shown to be effective in double‐blind placebo‐controlled trials includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, reversible and irreversible MAO‐inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and the anticonvulsant lamotrigine. Still more agents appear promising in open‐label trials. Conclusion: The complexity of the psychobiology is reflected by the difficulties in treating the disorder. According to the present knowledge, suggestions for drug treatment of PTSD are made.