Quetiapine for treatment of refractory symptoms of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

Mil Med. 2003 Jun;168(6):486-9.

Abstract

To assess the effects of adjunctive quetiapine for treatment of refractory symptoms of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), charts of Vietnam veterans with war-connected PTSD who had been prescribed quetiapine were reviewed. Only patients with symptoms that had not responded to adequate therapy with two or more psychotropic medications prior to quetiapine treatment were analyzed. Addition of quetiapine to ongoing therapy resulted in further symptomatic improvements in DSM-IV PTSD criterion B (re-experiencing) for 35%, criterion C (avoidance/numbing) for 28%, and criterion D (arousal) for 65% of study subjects. Low doses of quetiapine (mean = 155 +/- 130 mg) were associated with minimal side effects. These results, although retrospective, suggest that augmentative quetiapine may benefit some refractory symptoms of PTSD in combat veterans.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Combat Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Combat Disorders / psychology
  • Dibenzothiazepines / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Quetiapine Fumarate
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • Vietnam

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dibenzothiazepines
  • Quetiapine Fumarate