Burback et al. (2024) present a comprehensive review of advances in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The article highlights the complexity of PTSD, emphasizing that it is not just a disorder of fear circuits, but rather a systemic condition with multiple facets, including neurobiological, neuroendocrine and immunological dysregulation.
The authors discuss traditional pharmacological and psychotherapeutic therapies, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), recognizing their limitations, especially in chronic and complex cases. The review also explores barriers to effective treatment, such as psychiatric comorbidities, emotional regulation difficulties, and the stigma associated with PTSD.
The article then focuses on emerging and innovative approaches, including pharmacological interventions such as cannabinoids, CRF receptor antagonists, and psychotherapies such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PTE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), adapted for specific populations, like war veterans. Additionally, innovative therapies such as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and neuromodulation, which show promising results in clinical trials, are discussed.
Finally, the authors propose a PTSD staging model, based on neurobiological evidence and symptom trajectories, to guide the choice and sequencing of interventions, aiming for a more personalized and effective approach. The review concludes by emphasizing the need to integrate these new approaches into high-quality, accessible healthcare systems so that advances in research translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of patients with PTSD.
Reference :
Burback, L., Brémault-Phillips, S., Nijdam, M. J., McFarlane, A., & Vermetten, E. (2024). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A state-of-the-art review. Current Neuropharmacology, 22(4), 557-635.
