Benzodiazepines in PTSD are best described as which of the following?

• A. First-line long-term treatment curing PTSD.
• B. Not a primary treatment for PTSD; may be used short-term for severe anxiety or agitation but carry risk of dependence and do not address core PTSD symptoms.
• C. Effective for core PTSD symptoms but not for acute anxiety.
• D. Not used; benzodiazepines are contraindicated in all PTSD cases.

Answer: (C)

Benzodiazepines are not a primary or long-term treatment for PTSD. They can dampen acute anxiety or agitation for a brief period, but they do not address the core PTSD symptoms (such as intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood/cognition changes, and hyperarousal). They also carry a real risk of dependence and withdrawal, can impair learning and memory, and may interfere with trauma-focused therapies like exposure therapy. For these reasons, they’re used with caution and only short-term when needed, while evidence-based treatments for PTSD focus on SSRIs/SNRIs and trauma-focused psychotherapies. The idea that they would be effective for core PTSD symptoms is incorrect, and their role is limited to transient symptom relief rather than lasting treatment.