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Clinical Trial
. 1994 Dec;55(12):517-22.

Fluoxetine in posttraumatic stress disorder

B A van der Kolk  1 , D Dreyfuss, M Michaels, D Shera, R Berkowitz, R Fisler, G Saxe
Affiliations
  • PMID: 7814344
Clinical Trial

Fluoxetine in posttraumatic stress disorder

B A van der Kolk et al. J Clin Psychiatry. 1994 Dec.

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to establish the efficacy of the serotonin reuptake blocker fluoxetine in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Method: 64 subjects (22 women and 42 men; 31 veterans and 33 nonveterans) with PTSD entered a 5-week randomized double-blind trial comparing fluoxetine (N = 33) and placebo (N = 31).

Results: By Week 5 fluoxetine, but not placebo, significantly reduced overall PTSD symptomatology, as assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score. Changes were most marked in the arousal and numbing symptom subcategories. Non-VA patients responded much better than VA patients. Fluoxetine was an effective antidepressant independent of its effects on PTSD.

Conclusion: Fluoxetine is an effective pharmacotherapeutic agent for treating PTSD and its associated features, particularly in patients without chronic treatment histories.

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