First line therapies for PTSD
What are the recommended first-line therapies for PTSD? What pharmacotherapeutic options are FDA approved for treatment of PTSD? What medications may be effective at reducing the nightmares associated with PTSD?
PTSD treatment guidelines typically recommend prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and/or trauma-focused CBT as first-line treatments with pharmacotherapy as adjunctive.
The FDA has approved only two medications, sertraline and paroxetine, both SSRIs, for the treatment of PTSD. Prazosin, an alpha-1 antiadrenergic, has been shown to reduce nightmares and sleep disruption in patients with PTSD.
