What Is The Most Effective Way To Treat Ptsd

Eye Movement And Desensitization And Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD

EMDR is a very popular type of therapy often used to treat PTSD. Early sessions focus on becoming comfortable and getting used to the process.

During trauma-focused sessions, a client thinks about their memories or experiences of the trauma. They stay in that feeling, while moving their eyes back and forth .

The idea is that the eye movement activates more areas of the brain, improving the processing and healing. Sometimes other methods of brain stimulation are used, such as tapping both sides of the body.

EMDR is not always called an exposure therapy because it is typically categorized as a mind-body treatment rather than the CBT category. However, in my experience more exposure and processing are completed during an EMDR session than any of the other therapies.

This might be why it works so quickly for some people. However, EMDR isnt for everyone, and some people find that it brings up memories theyre unable to process. For this reason it is sometimes recommended conditionally for PTSD .

Its important that any EMDR therapist who uses the method for trauma have advanced training in PTSD and its causes and symptoms. I would also recommend that they have a good grasp on CBT concepts to help further with processing when needed.

Which Is More Effective For Treating Ptsd: Medication Or Psychotherapy

By Thomas Hughes

A systematic review and meta-analysis led by Jeffrey Sonis, MD, MPH, of UNCs departments of social medicine and family medicine, finds there is insufficient evidence at present to answer that question. Clinicians should make shared decisions with patients about treatment, and they should not rely on current treatment guidelines.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. A new study that sought to find out whether serotonin reuptake inhibitors or trauma-focused psychotherapy is more effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder concluded there is insufficient evidence at present to make that determination.

The systematic review and meta-analysis was led by Sonis and is published in the December 2019 issue of the journal Psychiatry Research. Joan M. Cook, PhD, of Yale University is co-author of the study.

Until there is clear evidence from head-to-head trials favoring one treatment or the other, Sonis said, clinicians should make shared decisions, with patients, about which treatment modality to use, based not on comparative effectiveness but on patient preferences regarding the following factors:

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What Are The Most Effective Ways To Treat Ptsd

The main types of treatment for PTSD are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Exposure Therapy, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing , and prescription medications.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of talk therapy where a therapist helps you redirect your negative thinking towards various situations. For PTSD specifically, the patient talks about their thoughts and trauma with the hopes of dissecting where your symptoms are coming from.

Exposure therapy involves being exposed to fearful situations and being taught how to ease anxiety. The goal of exposure therapy is to ease your symptoms and prove that your fears are not as valid as they seem.

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing uses of eye movements, sounds, or taps to help patients brains associate with trauma in a more positive light.

Finally, medication can be used in conjunction with talk therapy to help with symptoms of anxiety. Medication is never going to fully cure all symptoms but it can help take the edge off a little bit so you are able to work through your trauma and fears.

There are many therapists that specialize in PTSD. When you contact one, all you have to do is ask.

Depending on the severity of your PTSD, you may require in-person intervention and will not be able to do therapy virtually. Your therapist will perform an assessment to determine if youre a good fit.

How Does It Work

PTSD may be related to changes in the brain that are linked to our ability to manage stress. People with PTSD appear to have different amounts of certain chemicals in the brain than people without PTSD. The 4 recommended SSRIs and SNRIs are believed to treat PTSD by putting these brain chemicals back in balance.

Video

What Happens When People Have Ptsd

Is PTSD an Approved Condition for MMJ treatment?

Because PTSD spans several categories of symptoms, it can be incapacitating. People are diagnosed with PTSD if they have certain symptoms following a traumatic experience that last for at least a month:

one or more symptom of re-experiencing the trauma
one or more avoidance symptoms, such as avoiding places or objects that remind you of the original event
two or more symptoms of arousal and reactivity, such as jumpiness, heart pounding, or sweating
two or more symptoms of an effect on mood or cognition, such as negative thoughts or problems recalling key portions of the event.

When a person has PTSD, the brain can become sensitized in a state of constant hyperarousal. Nightmares are exceptionally common. People struggling with PTSD often begin to avoid a range of triggering environments. This can further fuel social isolation, making it difficult to hold a job and nurture relationships. Altogether, PTSD can lead to substantial disability and emotional burden on people who have it and society at large.

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What’s The Best Treatment For Ptsd In Children

Dr. Joan Kaufman explains the four stages of trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy

In the video above, Joan Kaufman, PhD, of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University, discusses the different stages of trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, or TF-CBT, the best evidence-based intervention for children who have impairing reactions to traumatic events. One key insight, she says, is that caregivers and children must work together, and that clear communication and understanding can make all the difference.

Children And Young People

Trauma-focused CBT is usually recommended for children and young people with PTSD.

This normally involves a course of 6 to 12 sessions that have been adapted to suit the child’s age, circumstances and level of development.

Where appropriate, treatment includes consulting with and involving the child’s family.

Children who do not respond to trauma-focused CBT may be offered EMDR.

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How Common Is Ptsd

At least half the people in the United States have experienced a traumatic event. Among this group, 10% of men and 20% of women develop PTSD. Women experience neglect or abuse during childhood more often than men. They also experience sexual assault and domestic violence more often. Women tend to experience trauma differently than men, too.

Inpatient Versus Outpatient Treatment For Ptsd

What is PTSD? (Whiteboard Video)

Residential or inpatient treatment for PTSD can provide you with an intensive supportive environment. This may be especially valuable if youre facing difficulties at home that might interfere with your recovery, or if you have symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder .

In some inpatient facilities, besides psychotherapy, you may also have the chance to engage in other techniques, from support groups to yoga, art therapy, and meditation. This could help you focus all your energy on feeling better and healing from trauma.

You may also have access to a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers.

You might spend between 30 and 90 days in inpatient care.

Outpatient care may look different from inpatient, and within outpatient care facilities, what they offer may vary.

In some cases, you may have partial hospitalization care. This means that you might spend 4 to 6 hours per day in a specialized clinic, and then return home.

In other cases, you might go about your daily activities and visit a facility a few times a day for specific activities and therapy sessions. You may also be able to bring your loved ones with you for some of these sessions and activities.

Telehealth and online therapy where you consult a mental health pro or doctor via Zoom, FaceTime, or phone has boomed in the past years. But is it effective for someone living with PTSD?

Torn believes so, and has conducted online sessions of EMDR successfully.

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Six Effective Ways To Treat Ptsd

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe kind of anxiety disorder. It typically occurs after the patient has undergone a devastating tragedy, horrifying event, or faced a grave threat to their well-being. Understandably so, PTSD is ubiquitous in war and military veterans, especially those who have served on the battlefield.

However, even people who are not directly involved in traumatic events can develop PTSD while absorbing patients shock and unpleasant emotions. PTSD can drastically impair life quality, trigger a disturbing array of overlapping symptoms, and lead to substance abuse.

Some common signs and symptoms include traumatic flashbacks, lack of self-esteem, unpleasant emotions, and insomnia. Patients can also lose chunks or all of their memory in severe cases. Some patients find themselves reliving painful memories in dreams or reality.

Seeking treatment for PTSD isnt easy, especially since most patients believe that they are incurable and hopeless. Therefore, the responsibility of staging an intervention falls on caregivers and family members. In reality, PTSD is curable, and there are several effective treatments and emerging therapies that hold great promise.

These treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, help reduce and eliminate disturbing symptoms. Keep reading to explore some practical ways to treat PTSD.

How Is Ptsd Treated

Experts have long disagreed on optimal treatment approaches. Current standards of care for treatment may include

medications, such as antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors , and alpha-1 blockers such as prazosin
certain forms of psychotherapy, such as prolonged exposure therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing .

However, recommendations made by different expert panels vary substantially on the order in which to try these treatments. For example, the American Psychological Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies recommend antidepressants known as SSRIs as possible first-line treatment. Most other guidelines, including those from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence and National Health and Medical Research Council, recommend using SSRIs only if initial attempts at psychotherapy are unsuccessful.

Alterations In Arousal And Reactivity Or Hyperarousal

irritable or self-destructive behaviour
or problems with sleep or concentration

Some symptoms of PTSD may not be viewed as problematic by veterans. Particularly:

exaggerated startle response

These responses may have been adaptive in deployment circumstances. They may have even served a critical role in the veterans survival and it may be helpful to acknowledge this. It may be helpful to acknowledge this and highlight that they become problematic when they arise in:

circumstances when they are no longer needed and

when they interfere with day-to-day civilian life

Stellate Ganglion Block: A Shot For Ptsd

But some of the most remarkable stories in Giers film came from those who were treated with SGB. And its not just those veterans who are passionate about the results from SGB psychologist and leading expert on PTSD Shauna Springer is excited too. In fact, she believes SGB is so promising, that she became the Chief Psychologist at Stella Center, an organization dedicated to making SGB widely available.

Springer points out that while applying Stellate Ganglion Block to PTSD may be relatively new, the procedure has been used for nearly 100 years for pain conditions, including shingles and phantom limb pain. In fact, the injection is done by skilled anesthesiologists and uses an anesthetic that is approved by the FDA for a variety of pain procedures.

During SGB, the anesthetic is injected into either the stellate or C6 ganglions on the side of the neck, and numbs the nerves for 8 hours. When the numbness wears off, patients report an immediate difference. There are a number of studies that show success rates between 80-90% with SGB.

Before she was at Stella, Springer worked extensively with the VA, and points out that SGB has become commonplace in the military. SGB is now a go-to treatment in some Special Forces Units and is offered routinely at many military hospitals, including Walter Reed. SGB is also used in the expeditionary setting to get operators and flight nurses back on the line. And it is now offered at about 10-12 VA facilities.

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Ptsd In Military Veterans

For all too many veterans, returning from military service means coping with symptoms of PTSD. You may have a hard time readjusting to life out of the military. Or you may constantly feel on edge, emotionally numb and disconnected, or close to panicking or exploding. But its important to know that youre not alone and there are plenty of ways you can deal with nightmares and flashbacks, cope with feelings of depression, anxiety or guilt, and regain your sense of control.

Eye Movement Desensitization And Processing

This type of neurological therapy, also known as EMDR, is a method that entails repetitive eye movements aimed at interrupting and reorganizing the trauma-related memories you harbor.

EMDR usually begins with talking with your therapist to point out your traumatic memories. The therapist then sieves down to find the most traumatizing memory or fear.

With the exact trigger in mind, the therapist gets you talking about the traumatic memory while directing you through a row of vertical eye movements. As you continue to speak and process the traumatic event, the neurological eye movement allows you to reframe it to a more positive memory. Research by the National Institute of Health concluded that EMDR helps significantly reduce the effects of PTSD.

Overall, it is a cost-effective method with few side effects, highly recommended by WHO as one of the most effective PTSD treatment methods.

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When Should I Seek Immediate Care

If you think about hurting yourself or someone else, tell somebody right away. You can tell a healthcare provider, a friend or a family member.

You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

Youre not alone. Theres always somebody who wants to help.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

PTSD is a mental health issue that lasts long after a traumatic event. It can make you feel negative and anxious. It can also cause you to re-experience the event or avoid certain things. If you have symptoms of PTSD, talk to a healthcare provider. Medication and specific kinds of counseling can help. If you feel like you might hurt yourself or someone else, seek help immediately.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/20/2021.

References

Psychotherapy Leads In Treating Post

Is MDMA an Effective Treatment for PTSD? Let’s Debate:)

By Adam P. Stern, MD, Contributor

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common, often debilitating mental health condition that occurs in some people who have experienced trauma. It can have a negative impact on mood, mimicking depression, and is characterized by petrifying episodes in which affected people re-experience trauma. New research suggests psychotherapy may provide a long-lasting reduction of distressing symptoms.

Over the course of a lifetime, many people directly experience or witness trauma, such as sexual assault, violence, or natural disasters. Experts estimate that 10% to 20% of these people will experience acute PTSD. Some will go on to develop chronic symptoms. Overall, about 8% of all people will develop PTSD during their lifetime, highlighting the need for effective treatments.

The Benefits Of Residential Ptsd Treatment

One of the most difficult aspects of living with PTSD is the fact that the individual can easily be triggered by ordinary events. Gunfire, fireworks, bright lights and other common occurrences that are jarring to the senses can transport someone with PTSD back to the state they were in when the trauma occurred. These flashbacks often occur at night while the person is sleeping, but they can occur at any time, severely disrupting the flow of normal life.

A residential treatment center gives patients the opportunity to recover in an environment that is free from the stresses of everyday life and surrounded by professionals who understand the nature of what they are going through. If you would like more information on PTSD recovery facilities, call our toll-free hotline at for more information today.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatments

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an increasingly popular form of therapy that initially became well known in the 1980s. It blends the principles behind cognitive psychology and behavioral therapy to create a comprehensive treatment approach. The cognitive element focuses on the ways the human ability to problem-solve and think rationally can aid recovery. The behavioral element focuses on the ways in which the health of the mind manifests through human behavior. Most cognitive behavioral therapists will work on helping the PTSD sufferer come to terms with the traumatic event and then find ways to modify behavior to cope more efficiently.

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Psychological Treatment Setting And Duration

Psychological treatment should be regular and continuous. The trauma-focussed component of treatment is best delivered at least once a week. Eight to twelve weeks of trauma-focussed treatment is usually sufficient when the PTSD results from a single event. Veterans can expect treatment sessions in which the trauma is discussed to last for about 90 minutes. It may be necessary to extend the duration of trauma-focussed treatment beyond 12 sessions for more complex cases, such as veterans with:

chronic disability resulting from trauma
significant comorbid disorders
a history of multiple traumatic events

Other Basic Tips For Coping With Ptsd On A Daily Basis

PTSD can affect a child and familys overall functioning, Connors explains. After trauma, families often have difficulty stabilizing and keeping up with the demands of family life. She notes that children and teens, for example, may have difficulty keeping up with the academic and social demands of school, and may withdraw from certain activities.

But there are ways that you can cope with PTSD on a daily basis. The following strategies may help supplement your other treatment:

Take good care of yourself. Be sure to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and get enough rest. Nicotine may worsen PTSD symptoms, so try to avoid this substance. You may also want to limit caffeine, as it has been shown to disturb sleep, which can affect your symptoms.

Join a support group. Support groups are a great way to connect with other people who are going through an experience that may be similar to yours.

Avoid self-medicating. People who are living with untreated PTSD may turn to drugs and alcohol as a temporary way to alleviate their social anxiety or escape from unwanted thoughts and memories, Connors explains. Attempting to medicate with drugs or alcohol can prevent progress in your recovery and lead to additional problems in the future.

Follow your treatment plan. It may take a while before your therapy and medication help relieve your PTSD symptoms.

Be sure to follow your treatment plan even if improvements don’t come as quickly as you’d like.

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