Health
IOM says PTSD therapies lack evidence of effectiveness
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 12, 2007
While several drugs and psychotherapies are used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder, many of the studies that had appeared to demonstrate the treatments' effectiveness are flawed, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.
Given the growing numbers of veterans and active-duty personnel diagnosed with the disorder, the panel that drafted the report urged that steps be taken to ensure the proper studies are conducted.
"At this time, we can make no judgments about the effectiveness of most psychotherapies or about any medications in helping patients with PTSD," said Alfred O. Berg, MD, MPH, panel chair and professor of family medicine at the University of Washington's School of Medicine in Seattle.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/11/12/hlbf1112.htm.
