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BACKGROUND: Better indicators of prognosis are needed to personalise post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments.AimsWe aimed to evaluate early symptom reduction as a predictor of better outcome and examine predictors of early response. METHOD: Patients with PTSD (N = 134) received sertraline or prolonged exposure in a randomised trial. Early response was defined as 20% PTSD symptom reduction by session two and good end-state functioning defined as non-clinical levels of PTSD, depression and anxiety. RESULTS: Early response rates were similar in prolonged exposure and sertraline (40 and 42%), but in sertraline only, early responders were four times more likely to achieve good end-state functioning at post-treatment (Number Needed to Treat = 1.8, 95% CI 1.28-3.00) and final follow-up (Number Needed to Treat = 3.1, 95% CI 1.68-16.71). Better outcome expectations of sertraline also predicted higher likelihood of early response. CONCLUSIONS: Higher expectancy of sertraline coupled with early response may produce a cascade-like effect for optimal conditions for long-term symptom reduction. Therefore, assessing expectations and providing clear treatment rationales may optimise sertraline effects. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None.

Original publication

DOI

10.1192/bjp.2018.211

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Psychiatry

Publication Date

12/2018

Volume

213

Pages

704 - 708

Keywords

Early response, antidepressants, expectancy, post-traumatic stress disorder, Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Self Report, Sertraline, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Treatment Outcome, United States