Triiodothyronine augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in posttraumatic stress disorder

Treatment-refractory posttraumatic stress disorder (TRPTSD): a review and framework for the future

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychiatric consequence of trauma that occurs in a proportion of individuals exposed to life-threatening events. Trauma-focused psychotherapy is often recommended as first choice for those who do not recover spontaneously. But many individuals require medications. In the US, only paroxetine (PRX) and sertraline (SRT) are FDA approved for PTSD. But response and remission rates with these medications are low, so numerous other pharmacologic interventions have been tried. To date, there has not been a systematic review of the data on what are the best next-step pharmacologic strategies for individuals who fail standard treatments. To that end, we review 168 published trials of medications other than PRX or SRT and provide a detailed analysis of the 88/168 studies that describe alternative pharmacologic interventions in patients refractory to other treatment. We also review clinical factors relevant to treatment-refractory PTSD; the neurobiology of extinction, as well as evidence-based psychotherapy and neuromodulation strategies for this condition.

Toolbox: Psychotropic medications for augmentation or combination in treatment-resistant depression

This toolbox compares pharmacologic options for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) that may be considered if the patient fails to experience adequate response or remission despite optimizing antidepressant therapy.

World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders - first revision

In this report, which is an update of a guideline published in 2002 (Bandelow et al. 2002, World J Biol Psychiatry 3:171), recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are presented. Since the publication of the first version of this guideline, a substantial number of new randomized controlled studies of anxiolytics have been published. In particular, more relapse prevention studies are now available that show sustained efficacy of anxiolytic drugs. The recommendations, developed by the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Task Force for the Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive and Post-traumatic Stress Disorders, a consensus panel of 30 international experts, are now based on 510 published randomized, placebo- or comparator-controlled clinical studies (RCTs) and 130 open studies and case reports. First-line treatments for these disorders are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and the calcium channel modulator pregabalin. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are equally effective for some disorders, but many are less well tolerated than the SSRIs/SNRIs. In treatment-resistant cases, benzodiazepines may be used when the patient does not have a history of substance abuse disorders. Potential treatment options for patients unresponsive to standard treatments are described in this overview. Although these guidelines focus on medications, non-pharmacological were also considered. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other variants of behaviour therapy have been sufficiently investigated in controlled studies in patients with anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD to support them being recommended either alone or in combination with the above medicines.

Novel treatment approaches for refractory anxiety disorders

The Anxiety Disorders Association of America convened a conference of experts to address treatment-resistant anxiety disorders and review promising novel approaches to the treatment of refractory anxiety disorders. Workgroup leaders and other participants reviewed the literature and considered the presentations and discussions from the conference. Authors placed the emerging literature on new therapeutic approaches into clinical perspective and identified unmet needs and priority areas for future research. There is a relative paucity of efforts addressing inadequate response to anxiety disorder treatment. Systematic efforts to exhaust all therapeutic options and overcome barriers to effective treatment delivery are needed before patients can be considered treatment refractory. Cognitive behavioral therapy, especially in combination with pharmacotherapy, must be tailored to accommodate the effects of clinical context on treatment response. The literature on pharmacologic treatment of refractory anxiety disorders is small but growing and includes studies of augmentation strategies and non-traditional anxiolytics. Research efforts to discover new pharmacologic targets are focusing on neuronal systems that mediate responses to stress and fear. A number of clinical and basic science studies were proposed that would advance the research agenda and improve treatment of patients with anxiety disorders. Significant advances have been made in the development of psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic treatments for anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, many patients remain symptomatic and functionally impaired. Progress in the development of new treatments has great promise, but will only succeed through a concerted research effort that systematically evaluates potential areas of importance and properly uses scarce resources.

Thyroid hormones therapy: a review of their effects in the treatment of psychiatric and medical conditions

Although thyroid hormones are indicated for hypothyroidism, their therapeutic benefit in treating other medical and psychiatric conditions has not been adequately studied. We review the use of thyroid hormones in treating psychiatric and medical conditions in the euthyroid patients.

[Potentializing of tricyclics and serotoninergics by thyroid hormones in resistant depressive disorders]

In response to the increase of resistant depressive disorders and in spite of improved treatments, numerous studies were conducted in the last thirty Years aiming at assessing the pre-morbid thyroid state of depressed patients resistant to well conducted tricyclic treatments. "Minimal" thyroid abnormalities were evidenced as well as central thyroid disorders which may not be detected by peripheral-i.e plasmatic- dosages. Regarding the premorbid thyroid status, the hypothesis of subclinical hypothyroidism was considered by many Authors. It is marked by four grades including T3 and T4 decreased levels, basal TSH concentration abnormalities as well as increased TSH response to TRH stimulation, and the presence of antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies. Although, there are different views on the existence or not of these abnormalities, we'll focus our attention on a metaanalysis including six studies. It shows in a population with a resistant depression, 52% of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, against 8 to 17% in patients with simple depression and 5% in the overall population.Similarly, antithyroid antibody levels (group IV hypothyroidism) were significantly higher in depressed patients (9% to 20% against 7,5% in the overall population). For many Years, a central hypothyroidism was hypothesized on the basis of an exhausted T3-T4 transference mechanism and a lowered TRH hypothalamic biodisponibility.In the last Years, new data emerged on the role of transthyretin, a cerebral carrier T4 protein, whose concentration in the CSF was found significantly lower in depressed patients than in a control group, the lowest levels being observed in the most severely depressed. This decreased level of transthyretin would result in a lower central T4 biodisponibility-hence, in view of a T4-T3 desiodation insufficiency, a T3 deficit is observed. A low transthyretin level associated or not to subclinical hypothyroidism could be a factor of depressive vulnerability on one hand, of resistance to tricyclic treatment on the other one. Conversely, subclinical hypothyroidism could be a predictive factor of a good response to a potentializing strategy. The pharmacological mechanisms involved in this potentializing phenomenon are now well known: they consist in an interaction between depression, adrenergic receptors and thyroid hormones biodisponibility. The decreased norepinephrine level observed in depressive patients is associated, in case of increased thyroid hormones biodisponibility, with a higher sensitivity of adre-nergic receptors, mostly betaadrenergic. This seems to underly the recovery process. According to some Authors, the serotoninergic system might be involved in the potentialization of tricyclics by thyroid hormones. We know that in animals with hypothyroidism, the serotonin synthesis is decreased and that the administration of T3 increases the brain levels of serotonin and its 5HIA catabolite. In addition, T3 could correct the down-regulation induced by serotoninergics on beta-adrenergic receptors. On the basis of numerous studies carried out on the potentializing of tricyclics, we suggest practical modalities of treatment - which until today did not materialize in every day practice in the absence of a clear consensus based on statistically reliable data: after four to six weeks of inefficient tricyclic or serotoninergic treatment on a correct dosage testified by plasmatic dosages, it is recommended to initiate a T3 treatment on a effective posology (25 to 50 micrograms per day), which must be reached in 2 or 3 days, except in case of rare and transitory side effects (sweating, shaking, tachycardia, nervousness, anxiety). If the treatment is not rapidly efficient, it must be discontinued in case there is no improvement after 3 weeks. Until today, there is no consensus about the duration of a T3 treatment. It is important to take into account the predictive criteria of good or bad response to a T3 potentialization, since they have direct consequences on the management of depressed patients. For example, a high degree of chronic evolution with resistance to numerous treatments, associated disorders according to the DSM IV axis I and a comorbidity of addiction, point to a bad prognosis of a potentialization treatment. In addition, we'll examine the few recent studies on the potentializing of serotoninergic antidepressant drugs by thyroid hormones.

Focus on paroxetine

This review of paroxetine is based on Medline and PsycLit searches and a manual search of the available research literature. It aims to cover the pharmacology of this frequently prescribed SSRI antidepressant in terms of its indications, efficacy and adverse effects. Overall, paroxetine is a well-tolerated and safe first-line SSRI antidepressant with anxiolytic qualities. It has been found useful in depression, anxiety and other conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The antidepressant has some advantages over earlier tricyclic medication in terms of a lack of cardiovascular side-effects and relative safety in overdose. Cessation of use, however, is associated with withdrawal or discontinuation symptoms and patients should be counselled as to how these might be avoided. A 3- or 4-week graded withdrawal regimen, perhaps with concomitant fluoxetine to cover serotonergic discontinuation symptoms, may be advisable.