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Treatment for PTSD provides the opportunity to improve symptoms, personal and professional relationships, and quality of life.
However, no one treatment is right for everyone. Some individuals are uncomfortable with having to talk about difficult life experiences. The following are various options that can be discussed with a treatment provider to determine which treatment may be most beneficial.
Trauma-focused therapies
Trauma-focused therapies are the most well researched and recommended treatment for PTSD. These are considered to be evidence-based treatments that have proven outcomes. “Trauma-focused” indicates that the treatment focuses on the memory of the traumatic event. Each of these treatments focuses on then using different techniques to help an individual process traumatic experience(s), through visualization, talking, or thinking about the traumatic memory, or changing unhelpful beliefs about the trauma. These treatments are time-limited in nature, typically lasting between 8-16 sessions. Following are examples of trauma-focused therapies with the strongest evidence.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy
Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy teaches one how to gain control by facing negative feelings. It involves talking about the trauma with a provider. In between therapy sessions, it involves confronting and doing some of the things that may have been avoided since the trauma.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) teaches one to reframe negative thoughts about the trauma. It involves talking with a provider about negative thoughts and doing short writing assignments.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps one process and make sense of the trauma. It involves calling the trauma to mind while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (like a finger waving side to side, a light, or a tone). These techniques work by “unfreezing” the brain’s information processing system, which is interrupted in times of extreme stress.
Other treatment options
Other possible trauma-focused treatment options recommended for people with PTSD include Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy, Written Narrative Exposure, and specific cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs) for PTSD where the provider helps one learn how to change unhelpful behaviors or thoughts.
Medications
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 one feels. Specifically, there are four common antidepressant medications that are recommended for PTSD: Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Fluoxetine (Prozac), and Venlafaxine (Effexor).
Ketamine Infusions
Conventional medicines and therapies may not always be the most effective for treating post-traumatic injuries. A more recent treatment approach has garnered more attention for targeting trauma-related symptoms, ketamine infusions. Ketamine infusions can assist in both the symptoms and root causes of the injury that may have resulted in changes in brain chemistry that results in a variety of symptoms. As of late, research has shown that in addition to traditional treatment options, intravenous ketamine infusions can be highly effective in treating trauma related symptoms. This typically consists of a course of approximately six ketamine infusions over two to three weeks. An additional two infusions known as boosters can be done to restore and sustain benefit. This course of treatment has been shown to reduce trauma symptoms rapidly and effectively by directly impacting certain receptors in the brain. This assists in balancing mood and reduce, or in many cases, eliminate, trauma-related symptoms. In particular, these infusions have been shown to provide relief for intrusive thoughts, physiological reactions to reminders of traumatic events, and a persistent inability to experience positive emotions.
Non-trauma-focused treatments with some research support
Some therapies do not focus on the traumatic event but do help in processing reactions to the trauma and managing symptoms related to PTSD. These therapies may be a good option if one is not interested, or ready, for trauma-focused therapy.
- Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) is 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.
- Family therapy can help loved ones understand PTSD symptoms, the impact this may be having, and working through relationship problems together as a family.
- PTSD support groups can help one feel less isolated and alone and also provide invaluable information on how to cope with symptoms and work towards recovery.