About Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a common condition that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a shocking or traumatic event. About 7% of all people have PTSD at some point in their lifetime. PTSD can look very different across individuals. They often experience nightmares and really strong emotional and physical effects when confronted with reminders of that traumatic event. In some cases, PTSD can affect a person’s relationships and their ability to function at home and work.

Despite the significant impact on patient’s lives, there is no cure available for this condition, and not everyone responds to medications approved to treat PTSD. Only two antidepressants have received approval from FDA for the treatment of PTSD symptoms in the past 20 years.2-4 And there are currently no approved therapies that target the underlying biology in the brain that transforms traumatic events and experiences into the chronic mental health illness of PTSD.

References:

1. DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD. American Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.
2. Ehret M. Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Focus on pharmacotherapy. Ment Health Clin. 2019;9(6):373-382. Published 2019 Nov 27. doi:10.9740/mhc.2019.11.373
3. Zoloft® (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. US Prescribing Information. Roerig, New York, NY, US. December 2016.
4. Paxil® CR (paroxetine) extended-release tablets, for oral use. US Prescribing Information. GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, US. September 2019.