U.S. veteran health care is a maze of inadequacy. As reported by a brand new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the medications are not working as advertised. Particularly, the most frequently prescribed post-traumatic stress disorder drugs are apparently no better than placebos at treating the symptoms. The negative side effects are there, though. Source for this article: Antipsychotics fail to relieve PTSD symptoms in veterans.

Veteran stress not alleviated with antipsychotics

“Adjunctive Risperidone Treatment for Antidepressant-Resistant Symptoms of Chronic Military Service-Related PTSD,” the name of the study, is the largest of all U.S. veteran kinds. Of the 10 to 20 percent of veterans who develop lasting PTSD, the study notes that one-fifth of those are prescribed antipsychotic medication, most often Risperdal. With the study, many narcotics were questioned. This integrated drugs such as Geodon, Abilify, Risperdal and Seroquel.

Dr. Charles Hoge of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research noted that the study could become a catalyst for real change in veterans' treatment.

“I think it’s a very important study, given how frequently the drugs have been prescribed,” he said. “It definitely calls into question the use of antipsychotics in general for PTSD.”

Almost same results as nothing

In just the last little while with all the wars, the military has been sending home thousands of troops. Many have PTSD and other disorders when they get home. Antidepressant medications were used at first, although military data shows they had terrible outcomes. Mood was supposed to be impacted a bit more with antipsychotic medication. It was tried next.

Antipsychotics were tested in a random trial with a team of physicians which were all from the Vets Matters medical system. PTSD patients that served in Afghanistan, Vietnam or Iraq and didn't get any relief from antidepressants went through the antipsychotic treatment. It took six months to complete. Results were nearly identical with those in the placebo group. Only 5 percent recovered fully, and less than 20 percent showed any improvement.

“We didn’t find any suggestion that the drug treatment was having an overall benefit on their lives,” said Dr. John Krystal, lead author of the study and director of clinical neurosciences at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD.

Antidepressants used to figure it out

Various surveys indicate that only half of United States vets who need treatment actually seek treatment. Of those who do pursue aid, the best known treatment for less severe cases of PTSD is a combination of talk therapy, relaxation tactics and an antidepressant regimen.

Study: Treating United States veterans' stress with Ecstasy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly8EdppvDcw

Articles cited

Journal of the American Medical Association:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/306/5/493.full

National Institute of Mental Health:

http://1.usa.gov/Y7EwZ

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/health/research/03psych.html?_r=1

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

http://1.usa.gov/oD4ucU