A recent study shows that the medication risperidone, which is an antipsychotic, may not be as effective in reducing the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for returning veterans of combat.
The trial was a randomized, six-month study of the drug and proved that risperidone didn’t work any better than a placebo to help ease the typical PTSD signs. It was also ineffective at controlling anxiety and depression, according to a report in MSNBC news.
Dr. John H. Krystal, a professor at Yale and director of a division of the VA Center for PTSD, says PTSD is an enormous problem. It is the most costly and most common disorder to treat at the VA psychiatry department. Dr. Krystal says the standard treatments such as Paxil and Zoloft help many people, but studies show these drugs are not as effective with people who have had numerous traumas or recurring PTSD.
Two years ago over 80,000 veterans were diagnosed with such mental health issues as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and irritability related to autism. Doctors turned to alternative medicines such as risperidone to supplement their therapies.
The latest study shadowed almost 250 veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD related to their military tour of duty. Half of these vets received risperidone and the others only received placebos. At completion of the study, researchers were shocked that the risperidone wasn’t any more effective than the placebos at reducing the severity of PTSD.
However, Krystal did say that the drug was effective at reducing side effect such as daydreams, flashbacks and nightmares related to thoughts about the trauma the veterans experienced during their tours. Typical side effects of the medication include drowsiness and weight gain.
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