Evaluation of the Efficacy of Propranolol in the Treatment of Patients with Anxiety and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Patients with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) require combined psychological and pharmacological treatment, but evidence on propranolol's efficacy in these conditions remains insufficient. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 211 eligible patients (after exclusion) with anxiety-related disorders or PTSD (per ICD-11 criteria) admitted to Ganzhou Third People's Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024. Patients were divided into the control group (conventional treatment, n = 105) and the experimental group (propranolol treatment, n = 106). Main outcomes included heart rate (HR), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score. Secondary outcomes covered respiratory rate (RR), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific (PCL-S) scores, and adverse reaction incidence. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups (P > 0.05). Post-treatment, the experimental group showed significant reductions in HR, SBP, DBP, and RR (all P ≤ 0.003), as well as lower HAMA, BDI-II, and PCL-S scores (all P ≤ 0.004) compared with the control group. CGI score and adverse reaction incidence were also decreased in the experimental group (P = 0.004 and P = 0.037, respectively). Propranolol effectively relieves anxiety and depression in patients with anxiety and PTSD, reduces adverse reactions, and improves treatment efficacy, providing a scientific basis for clinical medication optimization.