Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic Treatments

P.T.S.D.: Pharmacologic and Non-pharmacologic Treatments

Michael A. Thompson

Bellarmine University

Posttraumatic stress disorder results from exposure to an event so traumatic that it evokes feelings of fear, helplessness, and horror that alter the patient's behavior and mental status. We usually hear about soldiers experiencing P.T.S.D. as a result of the atrocities of war, yet regular citizens can endure traumatic events here at home that can become a recurrent part of their daily lives for years to come. P.T.S.D. is often characterized by three main symptoms: frequent re-experiencing of the traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks, an exaggerated or hyper-aroused state, and abnormal behaviors and avoidance. These symptoms can be debilitating to normal life and as such, P.T.S.D. should be treated as a serious disorder both physically and psychologically.

P.T.S.D. involves many unique neurochemical systems that are all interrelated. As a result, patients are often prescribed several drugs to deal with the different effects of P.T.S.D. The drug classes often involved include: antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety, Prazosin, and anticonvulsants (Steckler & Risbrough, 2012). Most of the antidepressants drugs potentiate the effects of norepinephrine or inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. While these drugs may help to stabilize the patient's mood, they should not be given to patients without close monitoring for severe adverse reactions. Many antidepressants can have the adverse reaction of suicidal thoughts. This is not a reaction that health care providers want patients to exhibit when on medication. Propanol is a beta-blocker that is currently ongoing clinical trial by the NIMH (National Institute for Mental Health) to determine if there are any physiological benefits (Steckler & Risbrough, 2012). It has been used off-label to deal with alcohol withdrawal and aggressive anxiety induced behavior. Some physicians have also found it therapeutic in patients with P.T.S.D. However the clinical trials have not proven any conclusive scientific data.

Prazosin is a hypertension medication that some doctors are reporting positive outcomes in patients who suffer from insomnia or recurrent nightmares. The drug's action works by blocking the brains response to norepinephrine. As with propanol, there has been no conclusive clinical evidence that Prazosin is effective physiologically for P.T.S.D.

As important as pharmacologic interventions are in treating P.T.S.D., non-pharmacologic interventions are equally necessary. Cognitive and exposure therapies are useful because not only do patients