effective present a challenging and urgent agenda for researchers and clinicians in the field.

The committee views its more general findings and recommendations regarding further research to be as important as its conclusions regarding the evidence supporting treatment modalities. The committee became aware of the formidable challenges that researchers face in conducting high-quality studies of efficacy and comparative effectiveness. The committee was able to identify studies that met the highest internationally accepted standards for randomized controlled trials (in assembling populations, administering treatment, measuring outcomes, and following up enrolled subjects), showing that such studies are possible even for such a difficult clinical condition as PTSD. As outlined in the committee’s recommendations in this chapter, setting a high standard for research on PTSD and delivering on it will require close collaboration between VA and other government agencies, researchers, clinicians, and patient groups. Thus, the committee’s recommendations are its suggestions for setting a framework for the future that can more successfully address the critical needs of veterans who return to civilian life with the diagnosis of PTSD.

APA (American Psychiatric Association). 2004. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Arlington, VA: APA.

Brady, K., T. Pearlstein, G. M. Asnis, D. Baker, B. Rothbaum, C. R. Sikes, and G. M. Farfel. 2000. Efficacy and safety of sertraline treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 283(14):1837-1844.

Branscomb L., G. Holton, and G. Sonnert. 2001. Science for society: Cutting-edge basic research in the service of public objectives. In Nelson, Teich and AAAS S&T Yearbook. Washington, DC: AAAS.

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Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Center for Mental Health Services. National consensus statement on mental health recovery. http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/SMA05-4129/trifold.pdf (accessed September 2007).

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Foa, E. B., and E. A. Meadows. 1997. Psychosocial treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: A critical review. Annual Review of Psychology 48:449-480.

Friedman, M. J., C. R. Marmar, D. G. Baker, C. R. Sikes, and G. M. Farfel. 2007. Randomized, double-blind comparison of sertraline and placebo for posttraumatic stress disorder in a department of veterans affairs setting. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 68(5):711-720.