Buprenorphine/Naloxone May Be More Effective Than SSRIs for Patients With PTSD

Buprenorphine/naloxone may help decrease symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or opioids alone, according to astudy published in theAmerican Journal on Addictions.Elizabeth P. Lake, Pharm.D., B.C.P.P., of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System in North Little Rock, Ark., and colleagues conducted a retrospective chart review of 165 patients with PTSD who were treated at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center between June 1, 2010, and June 30, 2016. The researchers divided the patients into three groups: those taking buprenorphine/naloxone, those taking an SSRI, and those taking other opioid medications. There were 55 patients in each group.The researchers compared the patients ’ initial scores on the PTSD Checklist for Clinicians, VA Primary Care PTSD Screen, or both, with the patients’ last scores for the study period. They found that patients in the buprenorphine/naloxone group had significantly decreased symptoms compared with those in the SSRI group. There were no significant differences in symptoms between the buprenorphine/naloxone group and the opioid group or between the opioid group and the SSRI group.When looking at the patients ’ initial and final PTSD scores, the researchers found that those in the buprenorphine/naloxone group experienced a 24% decrease in symptoms since their first evaluation, compared with a 16.2% decrease for those in the opioid group. However, P...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: buprenorphine Elizabeth Lake naloxone posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI Source Type: research