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Trauma-focused psychotherapies are the most highly recommended type of treatment for PTSD. "Trauma-focused" means that the treatment focuses on the memory of the traumatic event or its meaning

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There are other types of trauma-focused psychotherapy that are also recommended for people with PTSD. These include:

Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP)
A therapy in which you practice relaxation skills, recall details of the traumatic memory, reframe negative thoughts about the trauma, write a letter about the traumatic event, and hold a farewell ritual to leave trauma in the past.

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
Developed for people who have experienced trauma from ongoing war, conflict, and organized violence. You talk through stressful life events in order (from birth to the present day) and put them together into a story.

Written Narrative Exposure
Involves writing about the trauma during sessions. Your provider gives instructions on the writing assignment, allows you to complete the writing alone, and then returns at the end of the session to briefly discuss any reactions to the writing assignment.

Specific cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs) for PTSD
Include a limited number of psychotherapies shown to work for PTSD where the provider helps you learn how to change unhelpful behaviors or thoughts.

Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs)

Medications that have been shown to be helpful in treating PTSD symptoms are some of the same medications also used for symptoms of depression and anxiety. These are antidepressant medications called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). SSRIs and SNRIs affect the level of naturally occurring chemicals in the brain called serotonin and/or norepinephrine. These chemicals play a role in brain cell communication and affect how you feel.

There are four antidepressant medications that are recommended for PTSD:

Sertraline (Zoloft)

Paroxetine (Paxil)

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Venlafaxine (Effexor)

NOTE: Medications have two names: a brand name (for example, Zoloft) and a generic name (for example, Sertraline)

There are other types of antidepressant medications, but these four medications listed above are the ones that are most effective for PTSD.

If you decide try one of these medications, your provider will give you a prescription. Once you fill your prescription, you will begin taking a pill at regular time(s) each day. You will meet with your provider every few months or so. Your provider will monitor your response to the medication (including side effects) and change your dose, if needed.

Suggested treatments: Treatments with some research support

Some psychotherapies do not focus on the traumatic event, but do help you process your reactions to the trauma and manage symptoms related to PTSD. The research behind these treatments is not as strong as the research supporting trauma-focused psychotherapies (listed above). However, these psychotherapies may be a good option if you are not interested in trauma-focused psychotherapy, or if it is not available:

Stress Inoculation Training (SIT)
A cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches skills and techniques to manage stress and reduce anxiety.

Present-Centered Therapy (PCT)
Focuses on current life problems that are related to PTSD.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Focuses on the impact of trauma on interpersonal relationships.

There are also other medications that may be helpful, although the evidence behind them is not as strong as for SSRIs and SNRIs (listed above). These include:

Nefazodone (Serzone)
A serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) that works by changing the levels and activity of naturally occurring chemical signals in the brain.

Imipramine (Tofranil)
A tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) which acts by altering naturally occurring chemicals which help brain cells communicate and can lift mood.

Phenelzine (Nardil)
A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) which inactivates a naturally-occurring enzyme which breaks down the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

Other treatments: Treatments that do not yet have research support

There may be other options available such as certain complementary and integrative medicine approaches (like yoga, meditation, or acupuncture), biological treatments (like hyperbaric oxygen therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation), or online treatment programs. These treatments do not have strong research behind them at this time, but you and your doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of these options to determine whether or not they are right for you.

Choosing a Treatment

No one treatment is right for everyone. You can discuss treatment options with your health care provider, and determine which ones are best for you based on the benefits, risks, and side effects of each treatment.

Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of seeking treatment because of concerns with stigma or worries about having to talk about difficult life experiences. However, treatment provides the opportunity to improve symptoms, personal and professional relationships, and quality of life.

To learn about evidence-based treatments:

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There are other types of trauma-focused psychotherapy that are also recommended for people with PTSD. These include: Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) A therapy in which you practice relaxation skills, recall details of the traumatic memory, reframe negative thoughts about the trauma, write a letter about the traumatic event, and hold a farewell ritual to leave trauma in the past.

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PTSD can occur at any age and is directly associated with exposure to trauma. Adults and children who have PTSD represent a small portion of those who have been exposed to trauma.

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Traumatic events-such as an accident, assault, military combat or natural disaster-can have lasting effects on a person's mental health. While many people will have short term responses to life-threatening events, some will develop longer term symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms often co-exist with other conditions such as substance use disorders, depression and anxiety. A comprehensive medical evaluation resulting in an individualized treatment plan is optimal.

PTSD affects 3.5% of the U.S. adult population-about 8 million Americans. About 37% of those diagnosed with PTSD are classified as having severe symptoms. And women have higher rates than men.

Symptoms

A diagnosis of PTSD requires a discussion with a trained professional. Symptoms of PTSD generally fall into these broad categories:

Re-experiencing type symptoms, such as recurring, involuntary and intrusive distressing memories, which can include flashbacks of the trauma, bad dreams and intrusive thoughts.

Avoidance, which can include staying away from certain places or objects that are reminders of the traumatic event. A person might actively avoid a place or person that might activate overwhelming symptoms.

Cognitive and mood symptoms, which can include trouble recalling the event, negative thoughts about one's self. A person may also feel numb, guilty, worried or depressed and have difficulty remembering the traumatic event. Cognitive symptoms can in some instances extend to include out-of-body experiences or feeling that the world is "not real" (derealization).

Arousal symptoms, such as hypervigilance. Examples might include being intensely startled by stimuli that resembles the trauma, trouble sleeping or outbursts of anger.

Young children can also develop PTSD, and the symptoms are different from those of adults. (This recent recognition by the field is a major step forward and research is ongoing.) Young children lack the ability to convey some aspects of their experience. Behavior (e.g. clinging to parents) is often a better clue than words, and developmental achievements in an impacted child might slip back (e.g. reversion to not being toilet trained in a 4-year-old).

It is essential that a child be assessed by a professional who is skilled in the developmental responses to stressful events. A pediatrician or child mental health clinician can be a good start.

Causes

PTSD can occur at any age and is directly associated with exposure to trauma. Adults and children who have PTSD represent a relatively small portion of those who have been exposed to trauma. This difference is not yet well understood but we do know that there are risk factors that can increase a person's likelihood to develop PTSD. Risk factors can include prior experiences of trauma, and factors that may promote resilience, such as social support. This is also an ongoing area of research.

We do know that for some, our "fight-or-flight" biological instincts, which can be life-saving during a crisis, can leave us with ongoing symptoms. Because the body is busy increasing its heart rate, pumping blood to muscles, preparing the body to fight or flee, all our physical resources and energy are focused on getting out of harm's way. Therefore, there has been discussion that the posttraumatic stress response may not a disorder per se, but rather a variant of a human response to trauma.

Whether you think of these symptoms as a stress response variant or PTSD, consider them a consequence of our body's inability to effectively return to "normal" in the months after its extraordinary response to a traumatic event.

Diagnosis

Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months after experiencing or being exposed to a traumatic event. Occasionally, symptoms may emerge years afterward. For a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms must last more than one month. Symptoms of depression, anxiety or substance abuse often accompany PTSD.

Treatment

Though PTSD cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed in several ways. Please visit our PTSD Treatment page for more in-depth information.

Psychotherapy, such as cognitive processing therapy or group therapy

Medications

Self-management strategies, such as self-soothing and mindfulness, are helpful to ground a person and bring her back to reality after a flashback

Service animals, especially dogs, can help soothe some of the symptoms of PTSD

Related Conditions

Someone with PTSD may have additional disorders, as well as thoughts of or attempts at suicide:

These other illnesses can make it challenging to treat PTSD. For example, medications used to treat OCD or depression may worsen symptoms of PTSD. Successfully treating PTSD almost always improves these related illnesses and successful treatment of depression, anxiety or substance abuse usually improves PTSD symptoms.
Reviewed December 2017

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Traumatic events-such as an accident, assault, military combat or natural disaster-can have lasting effects on a person's mental health. While many people will have short term responses to life-threatening events, some will develop longer term symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

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PTSD can have lasting effects on a person’s mental health. Many people will have short term responses to life threatening events, others will develop longer term symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of PTSD.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Traumatic events-such as an accident, assault, military combat or natural disaster-can have lasting effects on a person's mental health. While many people will have short term responses to life-threatening events, some will develop longer term symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms often co-exist with other conditions such as substance use disorders, depression and anxiety. A comprehensive medical evaluation resulting in an individualized treatment plan is optimal.

PTSD affects 3.5% of the U.S. adult population-about 8 million Americans. About 37% of those diagnosed with PTSD are classified as having severe symptoms. And women have higher rates than men.

Symptoms

A diagnosis of PTSD requires a discussion with a trained professional. Symptoms of PTSD generally fall into these broad categories:

Re-experiencing type symptoms, such as recurring, involuntary and intrusive distressing memories, which can include flashbacks of the trauma, bad dreams and intrusive thoughts.

Avoidance, which can include staying away from certain places or objects that are reminders of the traumatic event. A person might actively avoid a place or person that might activate overwhelming symptoms.

Cognitive and mood symptoms, which can include trouble recalling the event, negative thoughts about one's self. A person may also feel numb, guilty, worried or depressed and have difficulty remembering the traumatic event. Cognitive symptoms can in some instances extend to include out-of-body experiences or feeling that the world is "not real" (derealization).

Arousal symptoms, such as hypervigilance. Examples might include being intensely startled by stimuli that resembles the trauma, trouble sleeping or outbursts of anger.

Young children can also develop PTSD, and the symptoms are different from those of adults. (This recent recognition by the field is a major step forward and research is ongoing.) Young children lack the ability to convey some aspects of their experience. Behavior (e.g. clinging to parents) is often a better clue than words, and developmental achievements in an impacted child might slip back (e.g. reversion to not being toilet trained in a 4-year-old).

It is essential that a child be assessed by a professional who is skilled in the developmental responses to stressful events. A pediatrician or child mental health clinician can be a good start.

Causes

PTSD can occur at any age and is directly associated with exposure to trauma. Adults and children who have PTSD represent a relatively small portion of those who have been exposed to trauma. This difference is not yet well understood but we do know that there are risk factors that can increase a person's likelihood to develop PTSD. Risk factors can include prior experiences of trauma, and factors that may promote resilience, such as social support. This is also an ongoing area of research.

We do know that for some, our "fight-or-flight" biological instincts, which can be life-saving during a crisis, can leave us with ongoing symptoms. Because the body is busy increasing its heart rate, pumping blood to muscles, preparing the body to fight or flee, all our physical resources and energy are focused on getting out of harm's way. Therefore, there has been discussion that the posttraumatic stress response may not a disorder per se, but rather a variant of a human response to trauma.

Whether you think of these symptoms as a stress response variant or PTSD, consider them a consequence of our body's inability to effectively return to "normal" in the months after its extraordinary response to a traumatic event.

Diagnosis

Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months after experiencing or being exposed to a traumatic event. Occasionally, symptoms may emerge years afterward. For a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms must last more than one month. Symptoms of depression, anxiety or substance abuse often accompany PTSD.

Treatment

Though PTSD cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed in several ways. Please visit our PTSD Treatment page for more in-depth information.

Psychotherapy, such as cognitive processing therapy or group therapy

Medications

Self-management strategies, such as self-soothing and mindfulness, are helpful to ground a person and bring her back to reality after a flashback

Service animals, especially dogs, can help soothe some of the symptoms of PTSD

Related Conditions

Someone with PTSD may have additional disorders, as well as thoughts of or attempts at suicide:

These other illnesses can make it challenging to treat PTSD. For example, medications used to treat OCD or depression may worsen symptoms of PTSD. Successfully treating PTSD almost always improves these related illnesses and successful treatment of depression, anxiety or substance abuse usually improves PTSD symptoms.
Reviewed December 2017

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Traumatic events-such as an accident, assault, military combat or natural disaster-can have lasting effects on a person's mental health. While many people will have short term responses to life-threatening events, some will develop longer term symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

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For many children, PTSD symptoms go away on their own after a few months. Yet some children show symptoms for years if they do not get treatment

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More PTSD Topics - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

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Information about understanding PTSD that includes topics such as: avoidance, trauma reminders and anniversaries, triggers, aging Veterans, impact on very young trauma survivors.

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Negative thought and feelings may include ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others, much less interest in activities previously enjoyed; or feeling detached or estranged from others

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PTSD known by many names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the years of WWI and “combat fatigue” after WWII.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affects 3.5% of the united states just adults alone, an estimated 1 of the 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD within their lifetime. Woman are twice to have it compared to men

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PTSD just doesn't happen to people that were in combat, it can happen to anyone.

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PSTD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and is caused when a dangerous or scary "life threatening" event hapspen in your life.

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We are the world's leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress.

PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. The good news is that there are effective treatments.

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