How to Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD)

Early treatment of PTSD should be considered once symptoms persist for three or more weeks following the trauma. PTSD may require a long-term multi-approach treatment to get the best results. The following modalities should help.

Things You'll Need

• Primary care physician
• Psychiatrist
• Medications
• Psychotherapist

Instructions

1. Do psychotherapy. Behavioral (exposure), cognitive-behavioral and eye movement desensitization therapies are effective.

2. Take medications. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) e.g. fluoxetine, sertraline have been most effective in decreasing arousal and nightmares and flashbacks. Other drugs include amitriptyline, alprazolam, prazosin and mood stabilizers such as carbamazepine.

3. Go to a psychiatrist for an initial assessment to develop a comprehensive management plan. This would be especially needed for patients with more comorbid psychopathology, suicidal ideation and unremitting symptoms.

4. Go for adjunctive psychotherapy if you have only partial recovery with medications.

Tips & Warnings

• Jitteriness, restlessness, agitation, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and nausea), and insomnia are common side effects with SSRIs. A significant percentage of men and women develop sexual side effects after several weeks or months of SSRI therapy; these adverse effects can lead to medication discontinuation.

Resources

• askmedpal