The efficacy of early propranolol administration at reducing PTSD symptoms in pediatric injury patients: A pilot study
✍ Scribed by Nicole R. Nugent; Norman C. Christopher; John P. Crow; Lorin Browne; Sarah Ostrowski; Douglas L. Delahanty
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 2010
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 90 KB
- Volume
- 23
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0894-9867
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Initial research supports the use of propranolol to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); research has not examined pharmacological prevention for children. Twenty‐nine injury patients (ages 10–18 years old) at risk for PTSD were randomized to a double‐blind 10‐day trial of propranolol or placebo initiated within 12 hours postadmission. Six‐week PTSD symptoms and heart rate were assessed. Although intent‐to‐treat analyses revealed no group differences, findings supported a significant interaction between gender and treatment in medication‐adherent participants, Δ__R__^2^ = .21. Whereas girls receiving propranolol reported more PTSD symptoms relative to girls receiving placebo, Δ__R__^2^ = .44, boys receiving propranolol showed a nonsignificant trend toward fewer PTSD symptoms than boys receiving placebo, Δ__R__^2^ = .32. Findings inform gender differences regarding pharmacological PTSD prevention in youth.