Watts/Schnurr MA

Meta-Analysis of Treatments for PTSD

Patient / Population Intervention / Exposure Comparison Outcome

Across 137 PTSD trials, PE, CPT, EMDR and CBT produced larger effect sizes than SSRI pharmacotherapy.

N
Design
Meta-analysis
Endpoint
Hedges g for PTSD severity
Relevance
3
ResultExposure g=1.08, EMDR g=1.01, cognitive therapy g=1.63; SSRIs paroxetine g=0.74, sertraline g=0.41, fluoxetine g=0.43.
Watts BV, et al. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(6):e541-550. 10.4088/JCP.12r08225
Discussion & critique

Quantifies the gap between trauma-focused psychotherapy and SSRIs that drives guideline ordering.