Treating PTSD

Post-traumatic stress syndrome, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, is a severe anxiety disorder that develops after a person experiences a harrowing event. PTSD symptoms include vivid flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety, insomnia and a feeling of being on constant alert. Common triggers of PTSD include:

  • Abuse
  • Natural disasters
  • Personal assault
  • Rape
  • War.

Fortunately, PTSD is very responsive to treatment, either with medication, therapy or a combination of the two. Some people with PTSD are reluctant to seek help because they’re afraid of dealing with their trauma. However, untreated PTSD can cause significant problems. Symptoms may get more intense over time, and PTSD is linked to a variety of other health issues, including heart problems.

If you suspect you have PTSD, talk to your doctor about treatment options. U.S. veterans and current military personnel can contact their local VA hospital or Vet Center for information about military PTSD treatment.

PTSD Medication

Studies have indicated that PTSD, like anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, may be linked to low levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a brain chemical that regulates mood. For this reason, the most commonly prescribed PTSD treatments are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of antidepressants that keep certain nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing too much serotonin. The higher levels of serotonin are believed to help minimize the symptoms of PTSD.

The most commonly prescribed SSRIs include:

  • Citalopram (Celexa®)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac©)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil®)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft©).

For more severe PTSD that includes hallucinations and severe agitation, doctors may prescribe mood stabilizers or antipsychotic drugs. Discuss all available options with your doctor before deciding which PTSD medication is right for you. But remember that antidepressants only treat the symptoms of PTSD, and not the underlying cause of the condition.

Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

Medication combined with therapy may be the most effective way of treating post-traumatic stress syndrome. Depending on the severity of the disorder, therapy alone may be a sufficient treatment. Types of PTSD therapy treatment include:

  • Exposure therapy: This is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that allows a person with PTSD to slowly allow himself to think about and discuss his traumatic experience. Therapists help patients replace distorted, anxious thoughts with a more balanced image of the situation. Exposure therapy usually begins with smaller, less upsetting memories to desensitize the patient before moving onto more upsetting memories.
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR helps people with PTSD adjust how they react to upsetting memories. It works by having patients respond to external stimuli, such as hand taps, eye movements and sound, while talking about the traumatic event. Doctors aren’t 100 percent sure how EMDR works, but in many cases it helps ease the symptoms of PTSD.
  • Family therapy: Like most mood disorders, PTSD affects loved ones, too. Family therapy allows people with PTSD to communicate with their families, share what they’re going through and address relationship problems.
Resources
Dryden-Edwards, R. (2009). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Retrieved May 25, 2010, from www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder/article.htm.

Healthwise. (2009). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for PTSD. Retrieved May 27, 2010, from health.msn.com/health-topics/neurological-cognitive-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100162878.

Smith, M., Segal, R., Segal, J. (2008). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Retrieved May 25, 2010, from helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm#treatments.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (2010). Treatment of PTSD. Retrieved May 25, 2010, from www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/treatment-ptsd.asp.