Some drugs have a small positive impact on PTSD symptoms and are acceptable. Fluoxetine, paroxetine and venlafaxine may be considered as potential treatments for the disorder. For most drugs there is inadequate evidence regarding efficacy for PTSD, pointing to the need for more research in this area.

Borderline personality disorder (BOR) is determined by environmental and genetic factors, and characterized by affective instability and impulsivity, diagnostic symptoms also observed in manic phases of bipolar disorder (BIP). Up to 20% of BIP patients show comorbidity with BOR. This report describes the first case–control genome-wide association study (GWAS) of BOR, performed in one of the largest BOR patient samples worldwide. The focus of our analysis was (i) to detect genes and gene sets involved in BOR and (ii) to investigate the genetic overlap with BIP. As there is considerable genetic overlap between BIP, major depression (MDD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) and a high comorbidity of BOR and MDD, we also analyzed the genetic overlap of BOR with SCZ and MDD. GWAS, gene-based tests and gene-set analyses were performed in 998 BOR patients and 1545 controls. Linkage disequilibrium score regression was used to detect the genetic overlap between BOR and these disorders. Single marker analysis revealed no significant association after correction for multiple testing. Gene-based analysis yielded two significant genes: DPYD (P=4.42 × 10−7) and PKP4 (P=8.67 × 10−7); and gene-set analysis yielded a significant finding for exocytosis (GO:0006887, PFDR=0.019; FDR, false discovery rate). Prior studies have implicated DPYD, PKP4 and exocytosis in BIP and SCZ. The most notable finding of the present study was the genetic overlap of BOR with BIP (rg=0.28 [P=2.99 × 10−3]), SCZ (rg=0.34 [P=4.37 × 10−5]) and MDD (rg=0.57 [P=1.04 × 10−3]). We believe our study is the first to demonstrate that BOR overlaps with BIP, MDD and SCZ on the genetic level. Whether this is confined to transdiagnostic clinical symptoms should be examined in future studies.

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis.Objective: To determine whether Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (i-CBT) is an effective treatment for those who meet diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: A systematic review was undertaken according to Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines. The primary outcome measures were reduction in PTSD symptoms and drop-out. Categorical outcomes were meta-analysed as risk ratios (RRs) and continuous outcomes as mean differences (MDs) or standardised mean differences (SMDs). Results: Ten studies with 720 participants were included. Evidence showed that i-CBT may be associated with a clinically important reduction in post-treatment PTSD symptoms compared with wait list (SMD À0.60, 95% confidence interval À0.97 to À0.24; N = 560); however, only three studies reported follow-up data, and there was no evidence to support the maintenance of symptom improvement at follow-up of 3-6 months. There was no evidence of a difference in PTSD symptoms between i-CBT and Internet-delivered non-CBT posttreatment. There was evidence of greater treatment effect from traumafocused i-CBT than i-CBT without a trauma focus, as well as evidence that treatment effect was increased by the provision of guidance. Conclusions: While the review found some beneficial effects of i-CBT for PTSD post-treatment, the quality of the evidence was very low because of the small number of included trials and there was insufficient evidence to support the maintenance of improvement at follow-up of 3-6 months. Further work is required to establish non-inferiority to current first-line interventions; to determine long-term efficacy; to explore mechanisms of effect; and to establish optimal levels of guidance. Summations• i-CBT may be associated with a clinically important reduction in PTSD symptoms post-treatment, but there is currently a lack of evidence to support maintenance of the effect at follow-up.• There was evidence of greater treatment effect from trauma-focused i-CBT than i-CBT without a trauma focus, as well as evidence that treatment effect was increased by the provision of guidance.• Further work is required to establish non-inferiority to current first-line interventions. Limitations• Only ten studies were eligible for inclusion, and sample sizes were often small. • Participants included in the ten studies were predominantly from the United States and Western Europe, employed and had relatively high levels of education. It is not possible to determine whether similar results would have been obtained from participants with more representative demographic characteristics.• There was a lack of independent evaluation. All but one of the programmes were evaluated by the programme developers themselves.

Internet-based cognitive and behavioural therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults (Review)

BackgroundTherapist-delivered trauma-focused psychological therapies are an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These have become the accepted first-line treatments for the disorder. Despite the established evidence-base for these therapies, they are not always widely available or accessible. Many barriers limit treatment uptake, such as the limited number of qualified therapists to deliver the interventions, cost, and compliance issues, such as time off work, childcare, and transportation, associated with the need to attend weekly appointments. Delivering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on the Internet is an effective and acceptable alternative to therapist-delivered treatments for anxiety and depression. However, fewer Internet-based therapies have been developed and evaluated for PTSD, and uncertainty surrounds the efficacy of Internet-based cognitive and behavioural therapy (I-C/BT) for PTSD. ObjectivesTo assess the effects of I-C/BT for PTSD in adults. Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group's Specialised Register (CCMDCTR) to June 2016 and identified four studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The CCMDCTR includes relevant randomised controlled trials (RCT) from MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO. We also searched online clinical trial registries and reference lists of included studies, and contacted researchers in the field to identify additional and ongoing studies. We ran an update search on 1 March 2018, and identified four additional completed studies, which we added to the analyses along with two that were previously awaiting classification. Selection criteriaWe searched for RCTs of I-C/BT compared to face-to-face or Internet-based psychological treatment, psychoeducation, wait list or care as usual. We included studies of adults (aged over 16 years or over), in which at least 70% of the participants met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). 1 Internet-based cognitive and behavioural therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults (Review)