A new meta-analysis reveals that combination therapies might be the best approach to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military populations. It’s a development that challenges existing clinical guidelines that have established trauma-focused psychotherapies as the go-to intervention strategy.
“Rigid prioritization of one treatment modality over others, particularly in the absence of strong supporting evidence, risks limiting the scope of care and may reduce the likelihood of optimal outcomes,” the authors wrote. “Clinicians should adopt a flexible, evidence-based, and patient-centered approach to treatment planning, integrating both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy where appropriate.”
Scope and Findings
The meta-analysis – appearing this week in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry – sifted through data from more than 400 studies, evaluating the efficacy of multiple PTSD treatments in military populations. The researchers analyzed the outcomes of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies, and combination treatments. It incorporated data from both clinician-administered assessments and self-reported measures to evaluate treatment effectiveness.
