Clinical Significance of Resilience - Answers Lowers risk of:
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
o Moderates response to treatment
Definition of Resilience - Answers Capacity to effectively cope with and respond to stress
Neurobiological, Cognitive and Behavioral features of Resilience - Answers o Intact reward and
motivation systems
o Appropriate fear responses
o Adaptive social behaviors (altruism, social bonding)
o Accurate threat appraisal
o Avoids overly negative or overly positive biases
First-line agent for PTSD - Answers SSRIs are first-line for PTSD
o Sertraline (Zoloft) carries an FDA indication for PTSD
Treatment for Sleep Disturbances associated with PTSD - Answers Temazepam
(benzodiazepine) GAGBA-A agonist. may be used for short-term for sleep disruption
• Trazodone (α1 antagonist) may also help with PTSD-related insomnia (off-label)
• Prazosin (minipress) (α1 antagonist) is especially helpful for nightmares in veterans
Dosing protocol for prazosin - Answers o Start: 1 mg at bedtime for ≥3 nights
o Titrate: 3-15 mg (mean dose ~10 mg)
Improves sleep latency and duration
,What is used for adrenergic modulation in PTSD? - Answers Propranolol (beta blocker)
What to know about Propanolol for PTSD? - Answers Beta Blocker
may prevent PTSD if given early
o Crosses blood-brain barrier → blunts adrenergic overconsolidation of trauma
memory
o Most effective if initiated within 6-24 hours of trauma
o Typical dose: 40 mg TID to QID for 7-10 days
NNT- 6-8. (experimental)
NNH- 50+ (bradycardia, fatigue)
What is used to treat hyperarousal in PTSD? - Answers Clonidine and Guanfacine
o Avoid abrupt withdrawal → rebound hypertension (especially with clonidine)
• Clonidine: binds to α2A, α2B, α2C → more sedating
(reduces hyperarousal and sympathetic tone)
• Guanfacine: more selective for α2A → less sedation (improves sleep and emotional regulation)
Study based dosing recommendations for Hydrocortisone in treating PTSD - Answers 100 mg
hydrocortisone IV TID for 5 days post-op
100-140 mg/day hydrocortisone for 10 days post-trauma
A single 100 mg IV dose of hydrocortisone administered within 6 hours of
trauma was associated with reduced intrusive memories and lower CAPS scores at 1
month.
, 20-30 mg PO BID x 10 days starting within 12 hours of trauma reduced
PTSD symptoms and decreased emotional memory consolidation.
what to know about hydrocortisone for PTSD - Answers preventative use
Mechanism-HPA axis modulation; blunts trauma memory consolidation
NNT- 5-7
NNH- 25 (hyperglycemia, GI upset)
What are the 2 SSRIs used to treat PTSD - Answers Sertraline (Zoloft) and Paroxetine (Paxil)
MDMA assisted therapy for PTSD - Answers Enhances 5HT, oxytocin, neuroplasticity, facilitates
trauma reprocessing in therapy
NNT- 2.6 (Phase 3)
NNH- 15-20 (transient HTN/anxiety)
N-Acetylcysteine for PTSD - Answers Used as an adjunct; experimental
Glutamate modulator; antioxidant, reduces beuroinflammation
Oxytocin for PTSD - Answers Used as an adjunct; experimental; minimal risk
Enhances bonding, modulates HPA axis, reduces amygdala hyperractivity
Cannabidiol for PTSD - Answers Used as an adjunct; experimental
Modulates CB1/CB2, 5HT1A and TRPV1
Reduces fear memory reconsolidation
Mild sedation, rare interactions