Psychological And Pharmacological Interventions For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that occurs after a major traumatic event in the form of re-experiences, repeated distressing thoughts about the event, avoidance of talking about the traumatic event, negative changes in thoughts and moods, and hyperarousal symptoms. The prevalence of PTSD is estimated at 15.4% in at-risk individuals and 59% of patients suffering from PTSD experience impaired quality of life. PTSD can be managed using psychological therapy, pharmacotherapy, or a combination. There are several psychological interventions in PTSD, namely Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Cognitive processing therapy (CPT), cognitive therapy, Prolonged exposure, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Brief eclectic psychotherapy, Narrative exposure therapy. Psychotherapy recommended by the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Post-Traumatic Stress, namely CPT and prolonged exposure PE as the first line. NICE recommends Prolonged exposure, Cognitive behavioral therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The APA highly recommends Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Cognitive processing therapy (CPT), cognitive therapy, and Prolonged exposure. The APA also recommends Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Brief eclectic psychotherapy, Narrative exposure therapy. Pharmacological interventions in PTSD patients are sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine and venlafaxine. A number of organizations including the US Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense (VA/DoD) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recommend SSRIs as first-line pharmacological interventions