In This Issue

Feature Topic

The National Center for PTSD wishes you a happy and healthy new year.

To start 2013, we want to make sure you know that people experience a range of reactions following a traumatic event. PTSD is just one of the effects of trauma.

Learn more about other common problems and reactions related to experiencing trauma such as depression, nightmares and sleep issues, and anger. Traumatic brain injury, (or TBI), substance abuse, and pain also commonly occur in Veterans of the recent wars.

New Online

• Dogs and PTSD: Describes dogs as pets, service animals, and emotional support animals and discusses what is known about the role of dogs in PTSD recovery.
• Acts of Violence, Terrorism, or War: Triggers for Veterans: Learn more about how events such as the recent school shootings can serve as triggers for those who have been through trauma.

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For Providers

PTSD and Co-occurring Problems

PTSD commonly occurs with other mental health problems and this can complicate treatment. Frequently a PTSD diagnosis will co-occur with depression and/or substance abuse problems, including alcohol and smoking.

Other problems that are often co-morbid with PTSD include sleep problems, TBI and other physical health conditions, suicidal intent, grief, and anger. Co-occurring conditions are often associated with poorer health outcomes than individual disorders, such as reduced quality of life and increased use of healthcare. Read more about Co-occurring Problems.

Treating Co-morbidities and Complications

The PTSD 101 Online curriculum includes 8 courses on what you need to know about and how to address specific co-morbidities.

Providers working with Veterans:

If you are treating someone with military service, visit the Community Provider Toolkit. Find mini clinics on suicide prevention, PTSD, women Veterans, and substance abuse.
You can also learn how to refer patients to VA services.

First Steps Following Trauma: Psychological First Aid (PFA)

Following disasters and other traumatic events, the first stage of response often involves the principles of Psychological First Aid. Also available: the PFA mobile app, training in PFA, and versions translated into other languages for schools.

Publications

Stay up-to-date on PTSD research developments, including information on co-occurring conditions. Subscribe to the National Center for PTSD's regular publications:

• Clinician's Trauma Update - Online
• PTSD Research Quarterly

To receive copies of these publications, sign up today.

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 For VA Providers

NEW 2013 Lecture Series:

PTSD Psychopharmacology Best Practices

3rd Wednesday of each month, 2 pm EST. VA staff please email us to sign up.

• 01/16/13 - Dr. Matthew Friedman on Following the PTSD Guideline Recommendations

VA PTSD Consultation Program

Free PTSD consultation for anyone working with Veterans. Call 866-948-7880 or email ptsdconsult@va.gov.

Join our Lecture Series, based on questions posed to the VA PTSD Consultation Program:

• 01/15/13 - Dr. Karen Mitchell, Millicent Meeks, & Joan Stadler on Eating Disorders Co-occurring with PTSD

3rd Tuesday of each month, 2 pm EST. VA staff please email ptsdconsult@va.gov to sign up.

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If people are using substances to avoid PTSD symptoms, treating the substance abuse may not be effective unless PTSD is also addressed.

In an effort to find more effective methods of treating Veterans with PTSD and substance use disorder (SUD), enrollment has begun for a randomized clinical trial comparing the addition of a manual-guided cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD to SUD treatment-as-usual in outpatient addictions settings.

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Sanders to chair Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was named chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Read more.*

The National Vietnam Veterans’ Readjustment Study
This study was conducted to obtain accurate prevalence estimates of postwar psychological problems. The full NVVRS Report files are now available for download.

Help us help others with PTSD
Join our campaign to help those with PTSD get needed treatment. See AboutFace, an online video gallery of Veterans talking about how PTSD treatment turned their lives around. Then download items from the AboutFace Press Kit including video public service announcements (30 and 60 sec.) and posters. Help spread the word!

National Center for PTSD staff win awards

Dr. Patricia Resick, Director, Women's Health Sciences Division, won the award for Outstanding Contributions for Educational and Training Activities from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies this year.

Dr. Terry Keane, Director, Behavioral Science Division, won the Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award - the highest award for science given by the Society of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association.

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

Feature Topic next month: Toolkits to help those who interact and work with those with PTSD.

The Staff of the National Center for PTSD

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