Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has long been recognized as responsive to drug and somatic treatments. Clinical characteristics and patterns of treatment response were well described in the 1940s. Recent studies indicate that tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) have specific ameliorative effects on PTSD symptoms, but further work is needed in this regard. Goals of drug therapy are provided and future directions suggested.