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Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Aug 2022This network meta-analysis compares the efficacy and acceptability of all published psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions for trauma-related nightmares... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
This network meta-analysis compares the efficacy and acceptability of all published psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions for trauma-related nightmares (TRN) in adults. The analysis included data from 29 randomized clinical trials involving 14 psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions and involved 2214 trauma survivors. Prazosin and image rehearsal therapy (IRT) were found to be the two effective interventions for TRN. Other interventions such as risperidone, paroxetine, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), CBT-I+IRT, prolonged exposure (PE), and IRT+PE, did not show significantly greater efficacy compared with control conditions. The rates of all-cause discontinuations were comparable among majority of the interventions and did not show significant differences compared with control conditions. Prazosin and IRT should be considered as the initial choice of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions for TRN. The efficacy of other pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions remains to be demonstrated. Future guidelines and daily clinical decision making on the choice of interventions for TRN should consider these findings.
Topics: Adult; Dreams; Humans; Implosive Therapy; Network Meta-Analysis; Prazosin; Psychotropic Drugs; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 35661755
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104717 -
General Hospital Psychiatry 2021
Topics: Female; Humans; Lactation; Prazosin; Pregnancy
PubMed: 33840480
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.03.012 -
BMC Psychiatry Apr 2023As nightmares may be a risk factor for, or symptom of, multiple psychological disorders, some researchers suggest that nightmares should be screened, diagnosed, and...
BACKGROUND
As nightmares may be a risk factor for, or symptom of, multiple psychological disorders, some researchers suggest that nightmares should be screened, diagnosed, and treated. Treatments for nightmares include trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Image Rehearsal Therapy, and pharmacological interventions such as prazosin and nitrazepam. As recent research has put into question our current understanding of treatment efficacy, there is a need to systematically review findings related to the effectiveness of nightmare treatments to inform best practice. The current review assessed the efficacy of psychosocial treatments of nightmare in all cohorts.
METHODS
A systematic search of four databases for peer reviewed journal articles from 2000 onwards produced 69 (35 RCTs, 34 non-RCTs) eligible articles that underwent narrative synthesis.
RESULTS
The results provide strong evidence for exposure and image rehearsal treatments for the reduction of nightmare frequency, severity, and distress, in civilian, military, idiopathic, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cohorts. There is emerging evidence that self-guided and brief treatment modalities offer efficient and effective treatment options. There is an urgent need for clinical trials of treatment effectiveness in children.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that treatments for nightmares are most effective when they facilitate a sense of control or mastery by directly targeting the nightmare content and/or the client's emotional responses to the nightmare content.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
A review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020204861).
Topics: Humans; Adult; Child; Dreams; Prazosin; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37085821
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04703-1 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Mar 2011Raynaud's phenomenon is an episodic vasospasm of the peripheral arteries, causing pallor, followed by cyanosis and redness with pain, and sometimes paraesthesia. On rare... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Raynaud's phenomenon is an episodic vasospasm of the peripheral arteries, causing pallor, followed by cyanosis and redness with pain, and sometimes paraesthesia. On rare occasions it can lead to ulceration of the fingers and toes (and in some cases of the ears or nose). This review focuses on primary (idiopathic) Raynaud's phenomenon, occurring in the absence of an underlying disease. The prevalence of primary Raynaud's phenomenon varies by sex, country, and exposure to workplace vibration.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatments for primary Raynaud's phenomenon? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to May 2010 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 16 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: amlodipine, diltiazem, exercise, inositol nicotinate, keeping warm, moxisylyte (thymoxamine), naftidrofuryl oxalate, nicardipine, nifedipine, prazosin, and smoking cessation.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Humans; Nifedipine; Prevalence; Raynaud Disease; Ulcer; Vibration
PubMed: 21401971
DOI: No ID Found -
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Sep 2012Nightmares, frequently associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and clinically relevant in today's world of violence, are difficult to treat, with few pharmacologic... (Review)
Review
Nightmares, frequently associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and clinically relevant in today's world of violence, are difficult to treat, with few pharmacologic options. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the evidence for the use of prazosin in the treatment of nightmares. A comprehensive search was performed using the databases EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, from their inception to March 9, 2012, using keywords prazosin and nightmares/PTSD or associated terms (see text). Two authors independently reviewed titles and abstracts and selected relevant studies. Descriptive data and outcomes of interest from eligible studies were extracted by 1 author, and checked by 2 others. The risk of bias of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed independently by 2 reviewers. Articles met criteria for inclusion if prazosin was used to treat nightmares, and outcome measures included nightmares or related symptoms of sleep disorders. Our search yielded 21 studies, consisting of 4 RCTs, 4 open-label studies, 4 retrospective chart reviews, and 9 single case reports. The prazosin dose ranged from 1 to 16 mg/d. Results were mixed for the 4 RCTs: 3 reported significant improvement in the number of nightmares, and 1 found no reduction in the number of nightmares. Reduced nightmare severity with use of prazosin was consistently reported in the open-label trials, retrospective chart reviews, and single case reports.
Topics: Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; Dreams; Humans; Prazosin; Sleep Wake Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 22883741
DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.05.015 -
Systematic Reviews Apr 2017Scorpion stings cause an estimated 3000 deaths per annum worldwide. We conducted a systematic review of all controlled clinical trials related to scorpion sting... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Scorpion stings cause an estimated 3000 deaths per annum worldwide. We conducted a systematic review of all controlled clinical trials related to scorpion sting management.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL and included controlled prospective clinical trials (randomized or non-randomized). The following interventions were assessed: adults and children with scorpion stings treated with (a) steroids vs. placebo, (b) different methods of pain relief, (c) antivenom vs. supportive treatment, (d) prazosin vs. supportive treatment, (e) antivenom vs. prazosin and (f) antivenom plus prazosin vs. prazosin alone. When trials had comparative outcomes, they were combined in a meta-analysis. Data was analysed with Review Manager 5. Dichotomous data were compared with relative risk (RR), and continuous data were compared with mean differences using a fixed effect model. There is no PROSPERO registration number for this study.
RESULTS
Antivenom against Centruroides sp. are effective in reversing the clinical syndrome faster than no antivenom treatment in children (RR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.06; 322 participants; three trials). Antivenom (against Mesobuthus tamulus) and prazosin combination is better than prazosin alone for faster resolution of symptoms (mean difference, -12.59 h; 95% CI, -14.01 to -11.17; 173 participants; three trials).
CONCLUSIONS
The polyvalent antivenom against Centruroides sp. in USA/Mexico and the monovalent antivenom against M. tamulus in India are effective for rapid resolution of symptoms. Prazosin is useful as an add-on therapy for M. tamulus stings.
Topics: Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; Animals; Antivenins; Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Pain; Prazosin; Scorpion Stings; Scorpion Venoms; Scorpions; Steroids
PubMed: 28390429
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-017-0469-8 -
General Hospital Psychiatry 2016Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder with significant sleep morbidity and limited treatment options. Prazosin may constitute a novel management approach... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder with significant sleep morbidity and limited treatment options. Prazosin may constitute a novel management approach and has been tested recently in a number of trials. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of prazosin for nightmares and other sleep disturbances in adults with PTSD.
METHOD
A systematic review of databases for randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of adults diagnosed with PTSD and reporting sleep disturbances that were treated with prazosin was conducted in January 2015. No limitations were placed on language or year of publication.
RESULTS
Six randomized controlled trials of prazosin for sleep disturbances in patients with PTSD were included (sample n=240). We found that prazosin was statistically significantly more effective than placebo in improving sleep quality [g=0.987, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.324-1.651] and in reducing overall PTSD symptoms (g=0.699, 95% CI: 0.139-1.260) and sleep disturbances in particular (g=0.799, 95% CI: 0.391-1.234).
CONCLUSIONS
Prazosin showed medium-to-large and statistically significant effects on PTSD symptoms in general and sleep disturbances in particular. While promising, results should be interpreted with caution given the limited total number of participants and the limitations induced by the majority of participants being male and noncivilian.
Topics: Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; Adult; Humans; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Prazosin; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sleep Wake Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 26644317
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2015.10.007 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Dec 2008Raynaud's phenomenon is an episodic vasospasm of the peripheral arteries, causing pallor followed by cyanosis and redness with pain and sometimes paraesthesia. On rare... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Raynaud's phenomenon is an episodic vasospasm of the peripheral arteries, causing pallor followed by cyanosis and redness with pain and sometimes paraesthesia. On rare occasions it can lead to ulceration of the fingers and toes (and in some cases of the ears or nose). This review focuses on primary (idiopathic) Raynaud's phenomenon occurring in the absence of an underlying disease. The prevalence of primary Raynaud's phenomenon varies by sex, country, and exposure to workplace vibration.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatments for primary Raynaud's phenomenon? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to May 2008 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 15 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: amlodipine, diltiazem, exercise, inositol nicotinate, keeping warm, moxisylyte (thymoxamine), naftidrofuryl oxalate, nicardipine, nifedipine, prazosin, and smoking cessation.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Humans; Nifedipine; Prevalence; Raynaud Disease; Ulcer; Vibration
PubMed: 19445785
DOI: No ID Found -
Current Drug Targets 2015Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder that may develop after exposure to a life-threatening trauma. As veterans and armed forces may... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder that may develop after exposure to a life-threatening trauma. As veterans and armed forces may deal with diverse health problems compared with civilians, they have a greater risk for psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, than civilians, even if the disorder may be also frequent in the general population. PTSD is associated with significant comorbidity, especially with mood disorders and substance abuse. Moreover, the suicide risk is higher in PTSD patients than in the general population. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antipsychotics and benzodiazepines are commonly employed in the management of PTSD, but often these treatments fail or are discontinued due to adverse effects. It has been demonstrated that high noradrenergic activity may be associated with hyperarousal, trauma nightmares and sleep disturbances in PTSD subjects, probably through the stimulation of α -1 adrenergic receptors in the brain prefrontal cortex. The α -1 adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin decreases noradrenaline effects at brain α-1 adrenoreceptors and may be a promising agent in the treatment of PTSD, as some studies have found it effective and well tolerated. Therefore, the present review is aimed to examine the role of noradrenergic system in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Moreover, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of prazosin in PTSD patients. Meta-analysis was used to combine data from multiple studies and better estimate the effect of prazosin on specific outcomes. We found prazosin to be significantly more efficacious than placebo in reducing distressing dreams in PTSD patients, even though our results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies included in our quantitative synthesis.
Topics: Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; Humans; Neuroimaging; Norepinephrine; Prazosin; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sleep Wake Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 25944011
DOI: 10.2174/1389450116666150506114108 -
Sleep Medicine Mar 2020Nightmares are a highly prevalent and distressing feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous studies have reached mixed conclusions regarding the effects... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Nightmares are a highly prevalent and distressing feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous studies have reached mixed conclusions regarding the effects of prazosin on nightmares, sleep quality, and overall PTSD symptoms in patients with PTSD.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, all EBM databases, PsycIFNO, and CINAHL were systematically searched from inception date to October 2018 for randomized clinical trials that included reporting of nightmares, sleep quality or overall PTSD symptoms. The analysis included data from eight trials involving 286 PTSD patients in the prazosin group and 289 PTSD patients in the placebo group.
RESULTS
In our meta-analysis, prazosin resulted in a statistically significant improvement in nightmares (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.91 to -0.36), but was not more beneficial than placebo for overall PTSD symptoms (SMD = -0.45, 95% CI = -0.95 to 0.05) and sleep quality (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI = -1.44 to 0.55). In terms of acceptability, there was no significant difference between the prazosin group and the placebo group with respect to discontinuation for all causes (odds ratio (OR) = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.62-1.62). In conclusion, the use of prazosin was associated with an improvement of nightmare symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that additional studies are needed before considering downgrading the use of prazosin in the treatment of nightmares in patients with PTSD.
Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Dreams; Humans; Prazosin; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sleep Wake Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 31972510
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.06.010