Immediate treatment with propranolol decreases posttraumatic stress disorder two months after trauma

Guillaume Vaiva; François Ducrocq; Karine Jezequel; Benoit Averland; Philippe Lestavel; Alain Brunet; Charles R Marmar

doi:10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00412-8

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Immediate treatment with propranolol decreases posttraumatic stress disorder two months after trauma

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Immediate treatment with propranolol decreases posttraumatic stress disorder two months after trauma

Guillaume Vaiva, François Ducrocq, Karine Jezequel, Benoit Averland, Philippe Lestavel, Alain Brunet and Charles R Marmar

Biological Psychiatry, Vol.54(9), pp.947-949

2003

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00412-8

PMID: 14573324

Abstract

immediate treatment

peritraumatic distress

Posttraumatic stress disorder

propranolol

short-term outcome

Background This study investigated the efficacy of propranolol prescribed shortly after trauma exposure in the prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis. Methods Eleven patients received 40 mg of propranolol 3 times daily for 7 days, followed by a taper period of 8–12 days. They were compared with eight patients who refused propranolol but agreed to participate in the study. Though nonrandomized, the two groups did not differ on demographics, exposure characteristics, physical injury severity, or peritraumatic emotional responses. Results Posttraumatic stress disorder rates were higher in the group who refused propranolol (3/8) compared with those who received the medication (1/11), as were the levels of PTSD symptoms (U = 85, p = .037). Conclusions Our results are consistent with earlier findings and suggest that propranolol may be useful for mitigating PTSD symptoms or perhaps even preventing the development of PTSD.

Details

Title: Immediate treatment with propranolol decreases posttraumatic stress disorder two months after trauma
Authors: Guillaume Vaiva (Corresponding Author) - Université de Lille
François Ducrocq - Université de Lille
Karine Jezequel - Université de Lille
Benoit Averland - Université de Lille
Philippe Lestavel - Université de Lille
Alain Brunet - McGill University
Charles R Marmar - University of California, San Francisco
Publication details: Biological Psychiatry, Vol.54(9), pp.947-949
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Date published: 2003
DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00412-8
ISSN: 1873-2402
PMID: 14573324
Organisation Unit: Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991105743702621
Output Type: Journal article