Sertraline treatment of children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sertraline in children and adolescents who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Method: Children and adolescents (6-17 years old) meeting DSM-IV criteria for PTSD were randomized to 10 weeks of double-blind treatment with sertraline (50-200  mg/day) or placebo. The primary efficacy measure was the University of California, Los Angeles Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Index for DSM-IV (UCLA PTSD-I).

Results: A total of 131 patients met entry criteria and were randomized to sertraline (n = 67; female, 59.7%; mean age, 10.8; mean UCLA PTSD-I score, 43.8 ± 8.5) or placebo (n = 62; female, 61.3%; mean age, 11.2; mean UCLA PTSD-I score, 42.1 ± 8.8). There was no difference between sertraline and placebo in least squares (LS) mean change in the UCLA PTSD-I score, either on a completer analysis (-20.4 ± 2.1 vs. -22.8 ± 2.1; p = 0.373) or on an last observation carried forward (LOCF) end point analysis (-17.7 ± 1.9 vs. -20.8 ± 2.1; p = 0.201). Attrition was higher on sertraline (29.9%) compared to placebo (17.7%). Discontinuation due to adverse events occurred in a 7.5% treated with sertraline and 3.2% treated with placebo.

Conclusions: Sertraline was a generally safe treatment in children and adolescents with PTSD, but did not demonstrate efficacy when compared to placebo during 10 weeks of treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00150306.