Novel Pharmacologic and Other Somatic Treatment Approaches for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults: State of the Evidence.
Lauren M. Sippel, Jessica L. Hamblen, Benjamin Kelmendi, Jonathan E. Alpert, Linda L. Carpenter, Adrienne Grzenda, Nina V. Kraguljac, William M. Mcdonald, Carolyn I. Rodríguez, Alik S. Widge, Charles B. Nemeroff, Paula P. Schnurr, Paul E. Holtzheimer
American Journal of Psychiatry December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230950 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Behavioral psychotherapy Cognitive psychotherapy Drug psychotherapy combination Evidence-based treatment Pharmacotherapy PTSD Treatment Mental health therapy Neurostimulation therapy Evidence-based psychiatry Behavioral interventions |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Evidence for most novel pharmacological and somatic treatments for PTSD is preliminary and highly variable, but data for transcranial magnetic stimulation are encouraging. |
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder that can become chronic and debilitating when left untreated. The most commonly recommended first-line treatments for PTSD among adults are individual trauma-focused psychotherapies. Other evidence-based treatments include specific antidepressant medications and non-trauma-focused psychotherapies. Despite the effectiveness of these available treatments, many patients' symptoms do not remit. This has led to the search for novel treatments for PTSD. In this review, the authors critically evaluate the data supporting several emerging pharmacological and other somatic interventions in the categories of medication-assisted psychotherapy, novel medication monotherapy strategies, and neuromodulation, selected because of the salience of their mechanisms of action to the pathophysiology of PTSD (e.g., MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, ketamine, cannabidiol, transcranial magnetic stimulation). The authors also evaluate the evidence for treatments that are the focus of increasing scientific or public interest (i.e., hyperbaric oxygen therapy, stellate ganglion block, neurofeedback). To date, the evidence supporting most novel pharmacological and somatic treatments for PTSD is preliminary and highly variable; however, the data for several specific treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, are encouraging.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic Psychiatry's Brave New World. | 2020 | Review | |
| Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD | 2020 | Review | |
| Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. | 2016 | Review | |
| MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Are memory reconsolidation and fear extinction underlying mechanisms? | 2018 | Review | |
| Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review. | 2016 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Regulatory Challenges and a Path Forward. CNS Drugs April 1, 2025
- State of the Science: MDMA‐assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder Journal of Traumatic Stress March 12, 2026
- Efficacy and safety of ketamine for post‐traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review with narrative synthesis and consideration of military and veteran populations Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports October 7, 2026
- Efficacy of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical and functional outcomes European Neuropsychopharmacology March 12, 2026
- PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF PTSD WITH PSYCHEDELICS: A FUTURE OUTLOOK International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science December 24, 2025
Cites 21
- A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Archives of General Psychiatry August 1, 2006
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- The safety and efficacy of {+/-}3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 19, 2010
- Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder JAMA Psychiatry April 16, 2014
- A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Frequency Study of Intravenous Ketamine in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression American Journal of Psychiatry April 8, 2016
and 16 more in the library