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OBJECTIVE	In light of the high prevalence of sleep disorders in patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , this study sought to compare the effect of prazosin and hydroxyzine on sleep quality in this patient group .
METHODS	A total of 100 patients suffering from PTSD were assessed ( mean age = 35.51 years , SD = 6.41 ; 28 % females ) .
METHODS	Next , they were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups : prazosin ( 33 patients ) , hydroxyzine ( 34 patients ) or placebo ( 33 patients ) .
METHODS	The trial lasted for 8 weeks .
METHODS	The patients ' sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index .
METHODS	Items taken from the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview were used to operationalize PTSD .
RESULTS	Compared to controls , patients treated with prazosin and hydroxyzine reported improved sleep and less nightmares .
RESULTS	Improvement was greatest in patients treated with prazosin compared to hydroxyzine and placebo .
RESULTS	Improvement in sleep was associated with an amelioration of their PTSD symptoms .
CONCLUSIONS	Both prazosin and hydroxyzine can be used to treat psychopharmacological sleep disorders and nightmares in patients suffering from PTSD , also leading to reductions in PTSD symptoms .

