Treatment Centers

PTSD is treated with a variety of approaches including CBT techniques, Exposure Therapy, EMDR, medications and group therapy. Treatment can reduce or eliminate symptoms of the disorder, but results vary depending upon the individual and the severity of symptoms. Most treatment plans for PTSD will involve a variety of techniques. Those listed here are some of the most widely used, but many effective therapies are available in both outpatient and inpatient, residential settings.
 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps change the thoughts and beliefs that create negative emotions and negative behaviors. In treating PTSD, CBT is generally used to help individuals reduce or eliminate distressful memories and intrusive thoughts related to the trauma they have experienced. Irrational thoughts, such as believing that one is still in danger after the trauma has passed, are gradually replaced with more rational beliefs. CBT techniques can also help control the triggering of trauma symptoms in everyday life through desensitization.

Various structured and guided exercises are commonly used in CBT and individuals may be given ’homework’ to complete between sessions. Telling or writing one’s trauma story in several versions, for example, can help diminish its impact over time and reinforce the belief that recovery is possible. When negative thoughts and beliefs are replaced with more positive and rational ones, distress is diminished and a more normal level of functioning can be achieved.

Exposure Therapy

One significant characteristic of PTSD is the tendency to avoid thoughts, feelings and situations that are reminders of the traumatic event (triggers). Exposure Therapy (also known as Prolonged Exposure Therapy) helps an individual to better tolerate trauma symptoms and triggers so that daily functioning is not hindered by the need to avoid them. Over time, the distress associated with thoughts, feelings and situations that have been avoided is reduced or eliminated. Exposure is done gradually and with a therapist’s guidance by using mental images (imaginal exposure) and real-world practice (in vivo exposure). Coupled with relaxation techniques such as controlled breathing, individuals will gradually confront distressful thoughts, feelings and situations. For example, someone traumatized by a severe car accident may work with mental images of the actual accident or imagine oneself driving again until distress about these events is diminished. The same individual may have real-world exposure such as actually sitting in a car or driving for a short distance until more comfortable in these situations.

EMDR

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, helps process trauma thoughts, images, emotions and sensations that are “stuck” and continuing to cause distress after a traumatic event has passed. During EMDR, individuals will focus upon distressful aspects of their trauma or trauma response (the target) while the therapist provides a type of stimulation such as tapping, auditory tones or finger movements. These techniques stimulate brain functioning in both hemispheres which allows trauma symptoms to be more fully processed. This reprocessing technique ‘stores’ trauma-related information in less distressful mental images, thoughts, memories, feelings and sensations.

Medications

Medications are often helpful in treating PTSD. They can provide significant symptom relief for some individuals, but are typically used in combination with other therapy techniques. Medications that have proven effective for treating PTSD generally affect the level of neurotransmitters in the brain that control fear, anxiety and stress responses such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and GABA. Regulating the levels of these neurotransmitters and others may reduce PTSD symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal so that daily functioning is improved and other therapies are more effective. Probably the most widely used types of medicine in PTSD treatment are antidepressants, particularly the SSRIs or Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. These medications help regulate mood, decrease anxiety and reduce stress levels.

Group Therapy

Group therapy, in conjunction with other treatment techniques, has proven very effective for treatment of PTSD. Social isolation is greatly decreased as trauma memories and related problems are shared with others who have had similar experiences. The opportunity to discuss traumatic events and symptoms can lessen the degree of distress associated with them. Supportive relationships are built in a group process and may help repair damaged trust and decrease emotional numbing and withdrawal. A group setting also provides an opportunity to identify and share coping strategies and to process trauma-related emotions such as grief, anger, guilt and shame.

Other Resources

Other resources typically used in the treatment of PTSD are education and self-help groups. Education groups provide information about the disorder and its management that is helpful to both the individual with PTSD and supportive family members. Education about traumatic events, symptoms of PTSD, coping strategies, the course of the disorder and the course of treatment may be provided in classes, conferences and family therapy sessions.

Self-help groups are support groups typically offered in communities apart from trauma-related professional services. Self-help groups are, however, often recommended by professional caregivers for individuals with PTSD to find additional coping skills and social support as well as to decrease isolation, re-establish trusting relationships and share trauma-related difficulties among similarly affected individuals. Many such groups are trauma specific. For example, there are self-help and support groups in most communities for survivors of sexual assault and childhood abuse.

Groups for bereaved family members are also typically available in many communities and may be specific to the type of death that has occurred such as suicide or homicide. Some groups are focused upon the loss of a specific family member such as a spouse or child. Also, support groups will often form in communities that have suffered a particular catastrophe or disaster in order to address those events.