In This Issue

Feature Topic

What Can I Do If I Think I Have PTSD?

After a traumatic event, it's normal to think, act, and feel differently than usual. Most people will start to feel better after a few weeks or months.

If your symptoms last longer than a few months, are very upsetting, or disrupt your daily life, treatment may help. If thoughts and feelings about a trauma are bothering you:

• Learn about PTSD and PTSD treatment. (PDF)
• Fill out a PTSD questionnaire or screen.
• Talk to your doctor or therapist.

Find the Best Treatment for You

Today, there are several treatment options for PTSD. For some people, these treatments can get rid of symptoms altogether. Others find they have fewer symptoms or feel that their symptoms are less intense.

You can learn about effective PTSD treatment options using our PTSD Treatment Decision Aid. It includes videos to explain how the treatments work.

You can also build a chart to compare the treatments you like most. Both psychotherapies (also called talk therapy or counseling) and medications are included in the decision aid.

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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.

PTSD Lecture Series

Free continuing education credits for our monthly lecture series.

5/17 at 2 pm ET - Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP on Treating PTSD and Suicide Risk: Separating Myth from Fact

• Non-VA Providers: Register at TRAIN.
• VA Providers: Register at TMS.

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

Subscribe to receive monthly emails that include a registration link and instructions for joining the live lectures.

Using the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid with your Clients

The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid can teach your patients the basics about evidence-based treatments, including:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
• Prolonged Exposure
• Stress Inoculation Training
• SSRIs and SNRIs

Patients can use the decision aid on their own, or you can work through it together during an appointment. At the end, your patient will receive a personal summary. Use this as a jumping-off point to discuss next steps for treatment.

Visit our website for more information and to download the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid Clinician's User Guide (PDF) that contains helpful tips on how best to use the decision aid. Other materials include a customizable slide deck and flyers you can share.

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Research at the Center

Participatory System Dynamics for Evidence-based Addiction and Mental Healthcare

Researchers are working to identify innovations to improve the implementation of evidence-based practices in healthcare systems. Two outpatient clinics are evaluating improvements in scheduling practices, referral procedures, patient flows, and staffing allocations as part of this research.

Share the PTSD Monthly Update

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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