Managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

A new guideline carefully separates validated treatments from those with weak or insufficient evidence and recommends a screening tool for primary care.

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Veterans Affairs/U.S. Department of Defense (VA/DOD)

Background

This guideline on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), written by the VA/DOD Evidence Based Practice Work Group, provides 37 assessment and treatment recommendations, based on the quality and strength of evidence for effectiveness and safety, along with consideration of feasibility and patient perspectives. The authors believe that this guideline can apply to both military and civilian patients.

Key Recommendations

A 5-item tool (the PC-PTSD-5) is recommended for primary care screening. For positive screens, a clinician-rated structured clinical assessment should be used to confirm PTSD diagnosis.
Psychotherapies are recommended over pharmacotherapy d…

Reviewing Author

Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Topics

Background

Key Recommendations

Reviewing Author