Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder With High Doses of Escitalopram

The study evaluates the hypothesis that large doses of Escitalopram will reduce symptoms of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Forty adult survivors of carefully documented traumatic events who had been followed for more than two years and have not improved will receive up to 40 mg of Escitalopram (daily) for twelve weeks

Symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, quality of life and global clinical impression, as well as emergent side effects will be recorded every two weeks (one week for the first four weeks.

The primary outcome measure will be symptoms of PTSD as recorded at the end of the study (or the last meeting with the patient - Last Observation Carried Forward).

The secondary outcome criteria will be treatment continuation, as expressed in the proportion of patients leaving the study for either lack of effect or side effects.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult survivors of traumatic events with chronic PTSD

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with past history of psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, opiate or stimulants abuse.
• Individuals currently on anti-depressant therapy.
• Individuals with past history of a failure to respond to escitalopram
• Pregnant Women
• Medical condition excluding the treatment with escitalopram (e.g., renal or hepatic insufficiency). Current, life threatening medical illness. History or severe side effects with escitalopram (e.g., hyponatremia)