Fluoxetine in post-traumatic stress disorder. Randomised, double-blind study

Most pharmacotherapy trials in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been conducted upon male combat veterans. Outcome studies relating to civilians are therefore needed. To demonstrate that fluoxetine is more effective than placebo in treating PTSD. Civilians with PTSD (n = 53) were treated fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 1999-07, Vol.175 (1), p.17-22
Main Authors: Connor, KM, Sutherland, SM, Tupler, LA, Malik, ML, Davidson, JR
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Antidepressants
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use
Combat experience
Disability
Double-Blind Method
Drug therapy
Female
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine - therapeutic use
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pharmacology
Post traumatic stress disorder
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - drug therapy
Treatment Outcome
Veterans
Vulnerability
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Summary:Most pharmacotherapy trials in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been conducted upon male combat veterans. Outcome studies relating to civilians are therefore needed. To demonstrate that fluoxetine is more effective than placebo in treating PTSD. Civilians with PTSD (n = 53) were treated for 12 weeks with fluoxetine (up to 60 mg/day) or placebo. Assessments of PTSD severity, disability, stress vulnerability, and high end-state function were obtained. Fluoxetine was more effective than placebo on most measures at week 12, including global improvement (much or very much improved: fluoxetine 85%, placebo 62%, difference 0.24, 95% CI 0.01-0.47; very much improved: fluoxetine 59%, placebo 19%, difference 0.40, 95% CI 0.16-0.64), and high end-state function (fluoxetine 41%, placebo 4%, difference 0.37, 95% CI 0.17-0.57). Fluoxetine was superior for measures of PTSD severity, disability, stress vulnerability, and high end-state function. The placebo-group response was low when viewed as a broad outcome based on a portfolio of ratings, but was higher with a traditional global rating criterion.
ISSN:0007-1250
1472-1465
DOI:10.1192/bjp.175.1.17