Promising Treatment for PTSD and Co-Occurring Disorders

FAU Study Finds New Medication to Treat Vulnerable Population

By Matt Sax

Florida Atlantic researchers recently discovered a new drug that shows strong potential to simultaneously reduce trauma-related anxiety, pain and alcohol misuse.

The study found that the drug significantly reduced anxiety-like behavior, pain signals and alcohol intake - but only when the tests had shown evidence of trauma-induced anxiety.

“Our results show that PPL-138 (the drug) not only reduces trauma-related anxiety and pain, but also selectively curbs stress-induced alcohol use,” said Andrea Cippitelli, Ph.D., lead author and assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects about 12 million adults in the United States, with rates especially high among military personnel and veterans. Many of these individuals also deal with chronic pain or alcohol use disorder, which makes treatment especially difficult.

“This kind of targeted treatment could transform how we manage PTSD and its comorbidities – especially for the large number of patients who currently fall through the cracks of existing therapies,” Cippitelli said.

Read the press release.

For more information, email dorcommunications@fau.edu to connect with the Research Communication team.