Background: Combined treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) plus mirtazapine has shown superior efficacy in some studies of depression, but has not been studied in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to assess acceptability of combined sertraline plus mirtazapine treatment for PTSD and to estimate its effect size relative to sertraline plus placebo.
Methods: Thirty-six adults with PTSD were randomized to 24 weeks of double-blind treatment with sertraline plus mirtazapine or sertraline plus placebo.
Background: To date, all clinical trials using a single therapeutic modality (psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy) have found that even the best validated treatments for adults with chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) leave a substantial proportion of patients with disabling residual symptoms.
Method: We reviewed the treatment course of three research patients with PTSD who received trauma-focused psychotherapy after experiencing a partial response to medication. Structured diagnostic interviews, validated symptom measures, and standardized treatment approaches were used to assess treatment response.