Pharmacologic treatment approaches for children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common cause of distress and dysfunction in children and adolescents and occurs with high rates of psychiatric comorbidity Medication may play an important role in targeting specific PTSD symptoms and associated disorders and provide a buffer for children while they confront difficult material in therapy It also may help to improve their general functioning in day-to-day life. A reasonable approach is to begin with a broad-spectrum agent, which should target anxiety, mood, and reexperiencing symptoms. Adrenergic agents, mood stabilizers, or atypical neuroleptics, used either alone or in combination with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, may be useful for targeting severe symptoms. Reduction in even one disabling symptom through pharmacotherapy may have a positive effect on a child's overall functioning.