An overview of the differences in the pharmacological management of post-traumatic stress disorder between women and men.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling psychiatric condition with a worldwide prevalence between 6% and 9%, and more common in the female than in the male sex. The aim of this paper is to review and comment on the different factors that might explain the discrepancies in the pharmacological management of women and men.

Areas Covered: The available literature shows that there exists a vulnerability of women to develop PTSD that may depend on neurobiological as well as environmental/cultural factors.