Abstract
Objective:
The authors report an 8-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of guanfacine versus placebo for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Method:
Veterans with chronic PTSD who were medication-free or receiving stable pharmacotherapy were randomly assigned to guanfacine (N=29) versus placebo (N=34).
Results:
Guanfacine had no effect on PTSD symptoms, subjective sleep quality, or general mood disturbances. Guanfacine was associated with a number of side effects.
Conclusions:
These results do not support the use of alpha 2 agonists in veterans with chronic PTSD.
Publication types
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / adverse effects
-
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / therapeutic use*
-
Chronic Disease
-
Comorbidity
-
Double-Blind Method
-
Guanfacine / adverse effects
-
Guanfacine / therapeutic use*
-
Humans
-
Mood Disorders / drug therapy
-
Mood Disorders / epidemiology
-
Mood Disorders / psychology
-
Placebos
-
Sleep / drug effects
-
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / drug therapy*
-
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology
-
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
-
Treatment Outcome
-
Veterans / psychology
Substances
-
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
-
Placebos
-
Guanfacine