Marshall LL, Hayslett RL. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Middle Age and Beyond.
Sr Care Pharm 2021;
36:191-207. [PMID:
33766192 DOI:
10.4140/tcp.n.2021.191]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical manifestations and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults and older people.
DATA SOURCES
Articles indexed in PubMed, Embase, psychology databases, and the Cochrane library over the past 10 years using the key words "post-traumatic stress disorder," "stress disorders," and "post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment."
STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION
Sixty-seven publications were reviewed and criteria supporting the primary objective were used to identify useful resources.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The literature included practice guidelines; review articles; original research articles; and product prescribing information for the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD.
CONCLUSION
Psychotherapy is the first-line therapy for PTSD. Pharmacologic therapy is recommended, as second-line therapy, for adults living with PTSD who do not have access to psychotherapy or refuse psychotherapy. Pharmacologic therapy may also be considered in cases of partial, or no, response to psychotherapy. Current guidelines recommend prescribing one of 3 selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, either fluoxetine, paroxetine, or sertraline, or prescribing the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine, for adult patients who do not have access to psychotherapy or prefer not to use psychotherapy. Unfortunately, these recommended medications have additional cautions for use in older people so may not be appropriate for many older people living with PTSD. Therapy for older people should be tailored to patient-specific symptoms, with careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks of the therapy and coexisting medical conditions of each patient.
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