In This Issue

Feature Topic

Why Choose an Evidence-Based Treatment?

When you're looking for PTSD treatment, there are a lot of choices - and a lot of claims about what works. However, not all treatments work equally well.

Some treatments for PTSD have been found to work better than others. These evidence-based treatments give you the best chance for recovery.

Here are some resources to help you learn more about your options:

• What makes treatment evidence based? View this short, animated whiteboard video about evidence-based treatment.
• Getting Started with Therapy: Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy, are two PTSD treatments that have been tested and proven to work best.
• Why PTSD Research is Important: Read about what we have learned about PTSD from Veterans and their families, and find out about our current research studies.

Resources for Veterans and Their Families

• Meet Veterans who talk about their experiences with PTSD treatment.
• Know Your Options: Review evidence-based treatments for PTSD offered in VA health care facilities.
• Find VA PTSD Treatment programs with our PTSD Program Locator

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For Providers

Consult with PTSD Experts

The PTSD Consultation Program offers free PTSD consultation to any provider who treats Veterans in any setting. This program is now open to Community Providers.

Have a question about PTSD? Contact us:
Call 866-948-7880 or
Email PTSDconsult@va.gov

VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD Courses

The VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline describes critical decision points in the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Reaction. Recommendations for practitioners and useful tools for providers and patients are included such as:

• A PTSD Pocket Guide
• PTSD Provider Tool
• Guide for Clinic Leaders
• Booklets for patients regarding PTSD and family issues.

This one-hour presentation provides an overview of the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline Level A treatments for PTSD.

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For VA Providers

2015 PTSD Consultation Lecture Series

Subscribe!

VA staff please sign up for VA Staff PTSD Updates to receive monthly notices that include a registration link and instructions for joining the live lectures.

Next Lecture in the Series

• 4/15 at 2 pm ET - Michele Spoont, PhD on PTSD Treatment Disparities

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 2 pm ET.

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Research at the Center

Factors Influencing Clinician Use Of Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment

Investigators are in the midst of 5-year study to understand what clinician- and organizational-level factors help or impede sustained use of PE and CPT in VA's residential PTSD programs. The study also examines if use of these treatments is associated with better Veteran outcomes.

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PTSD in the News

Blumenthal highlights 'mystery' of PTSD in visit to West Haven VA hospital. Dr. John Krystal, Director of the National Center for PTSD's Clinical Neurosciences Division, contributed to a February 23rd story in the New Haven (CT) Register on a meeting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) held with officials from the Division and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System Medical Center. Read more.*

San Diego Scientists Link Genes with PTSD, Before and After War. VA psychiatrist Dewleen Baker was interviewed for a KPBS (San Diego public television/radio) story on a study in which researchers at the VA San Diego Healthcare System participated. Read more.*

Be sure to forward this update to others so they can subscribe. We send one update per month to keep you informed of the latest PTSD developments.

Thank you,

The Staff of VA’s National Center for PTSD

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