levetiracetam and Stress-Disorders--Post-Traumatic

To assess the use of levetiracetam, a novel anticonvulsant agent, in the treatment of refractory posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).. Retrospective analysis was conducted of 23 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD who, after being deemed partial or nonresponders to antidepressant therapy, received levetiracetam in a naturalistic fashion. The primary outcome measure was the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). Secondary outcome measures included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale (CGI-S), and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I).. Levetiracetam at a mean+/-SD dose of 1967+/-650 mg/day for 9.7+/-3.7 weeks was generally well tolerated. Nineteen patients (83%) were taking at least 1 concomitant medication. Patients were severely ill with a mean baseline PCL-C score of 67.2+/-9.4, CGI-S score of 6.0+/-0.7, and HAM-A score of 26.8+/-4.9. Patients improved significantly on all measures (p<.001). Thirteen patients (56%) met responder criteria at endpoint (PCL-C mean change=23.5, CGI-I score

Topics: Adult; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressive Agents; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Levetiracetam; Male; Middle Aged; Personality Inventory; Piracetam; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychometrics; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome