Response to venlafaxine in a previously antidepressant treatment-resistant combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently treated with antidepressant medications, especially the newer selective serotonergic antidepressants which have documented efficacy in PTSD. Analagous to depression, however, some PTSD patients may not have a satisfactory response to these agents. This case report describes a PTSD patient who did not respond to several serotonergic antidepressants, but did improve with venlafaxine which has both noradrenergic and serotonergic properties.