Targeting PTSD with ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide: Results from a randomized trial integrating pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy
Randomised controlled trialHumans
- Design
- Randomised controlled trial
- Subjects
- 60 patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, in four groups of 15. All completed.
- Dose used in the study
- 1,200 mg a day of ultramicronised palmitoylethanolamide or placebo, each with or without cognitive behavioural therapy
- Duration
- 6 months of treatment and 12 months of follow-up
- What was measured
- PTSD severity on the PCL-5 checklist and anxiety on the Hamilton scale
What the authors reported
The authors reported the largest improvement in the group given palmitoylethanolamide with therapy, where the PTSD score fell from 67.3 to 20.0. They reported that palmitoylethanolamide alone also improved symptoms compared with placebo, and that the placebo group changed little. No serious adverse events were reported.
Limits of this study
Four groups of 15 at one centre. The authors note the small sample and that they made no power calculation in advance. It was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, and the authors declared no conflicts.
Source
doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.10.071
Entry checked against the article page at the publisher (ScienceDirect) on 2026-09-21. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.