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Psychopharmacotherapy of Trauma Sequelae

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Trauma Sequelae

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Abstract

In the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – the most clinically relevant trauma sequelae in literature and clinical practice – psychopharmacotherapy has a subordinate role compared to psychotherapeutic procedures. Compared to the relatively large number of publications on posttraumatic disorders and their psychotherapeutic treatment, there are comparatively few studies on the therapeutic use of psychotropic substances. According to the current state of knowledge, psychopharmacotherapy nevertheless represents a useful addition to the overall treatment plan of posttraumatic disorders, which is indicated in particular for severe PTSD syndromes with hyperexcitability, panic attacks and depressive symptoms, if possible in combination with psychotherapy. First choice drugs for posttraumatic stress disorder are antidepressants from the SSRI group (e.g. sertraline, paroxetine) or pharmacologically similar substances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Dresden University of Technology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    M. Bauer & E. Severus

  2. Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Newham Centre for Mental Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    S. Priebe

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  1. M. Bauer
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  2. S. Priebe
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  3. E. Severus
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Correspondence to M. Bauer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Zurich, Switzerland

    Andreas Maercker

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Bauer, M., Priebe, S., Severus, E. (2022). Psychopharmacotherapy of Trauma Sequelae. In: Maercker, A. (eds) Trauma Sequelae. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-64057-9_19

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