No role for benzodiazepines in posttraumatic stress disorder? A surplus of certainty despite scarce evidence

Objective: This article addresses some of the controversies about the role of benzodiazepines in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusions: Benzodiazepines have been admonished in treatment guidelines for posttraumatic stress disorder, but this is based on very little solid evidence. Although benzodiazepines do not seem to be effective in the treatment of the core posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, their careful use as adjunctive agents for the symptoms such as anxiety and sleep disturbance may be useful. Future research needs to identify predictors of improved treatment outcomes in posttraumatic stress disorder with use of benzodiazepines.