Adjunctive Risperidone Is Ineffective for Military PTSD

Half of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not recover, instead experiencing the disabling and distressing symptoms of chronic PTSD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the medication of choice for PTSD, work less well in men and those with chronic PTSD. Atypical antipsychotics are increasingly used as adjunctive medications for SSRI-resistant military PTSD, based on several small studies, many in civilian populations. In a 6-month, randomized, controlled, double-blinded study at 23 Veterans Affairs outpatient centers, investigators compared adjunctive risperidone (≤4 mg daily) with placebo in 267 veterans with PTSD. Participants had not responded to at least two SSRIs and were receiving psychosocial treatme…