Emerging treatments for PTSD

Clin Psychol Rev. 2009 Dec;29(8):715-26. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.09.001. Epub 2009 Sep 10.

Abstract

Recent innovations in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research have identified new treatments with significant potential, as well as novel enhancements to empirically-validated treatments. This paper reviews emerging psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of PTSD. It examines the evidence for a range of interventions, from social and family-based treatments to technological-based treatments. It describes recent findings regarding novel pharmacologic approaches including propranolol, ketamine, prazosin, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Special emphasis is given to the description of virtual reality and D-cycloserine as enhancements to prolonged exposure therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Combat Disorders / therapy*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Cycloserine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Implosive Therapy
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Ketamine / therapeutic use
  • Life Change Events
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / therapeutic use
  • Prazosin / therapeutic use
  • Propranolol / therapeutic use
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy
  • User-Computer Interface

Substances

  • Ketamine
  • Cycloserine
  • Propranolol
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • Prazosin