Thankfully, PTSD is very treatable, and treatment often includes different forms of psychotherapy and prescription medications.
Verywell / Julie Bang
Prescription Medications
A range of medications are available to treat PTSD.
Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety medications, and alpha-1 blockers may be prescribed.
Verywell / Julie Bang
Healthcare providers will tailor each persons treatment to fit their needs.
They affect serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood and anxiety.
It also influences bodily functions like appetite and sleep.
The two FDA-approved SSRIs for PTSD are sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil).
SNRIs affect serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood and anxiety..
The use of this medication for PTSD is also considered off-label.
However, a review of several studies has found them to be ineffective and carry several risks.
This family of drugs also carries an FDA warning of a high risk of dependency and addiction.
Everyone responds to medical treatments for PTSD differently.
Mood stabilizers work by balancing brain chemicals that regulate emotions.
Lithiumand carbamazepine (Tegretol) are mood stabilizers that can be used for PTSD.
Side effects of mood stabilizers may include nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness.
They may be used alongside an antidepressant to boost its effects or alone.
Interventions recommended for the treatment of PTSD are often variations of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Additionally, psychodynamic therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as attentional bias.
Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy
This approach combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy with a psychodynamic approach.
Brief eclectic psychotherapy aims to change painful thoughts and feelings that are the result of a traumatic event.
The patient is asked to talk about the traumatic event as if it is happening in the present.
They are taught relaxation exercises.
The therapist helps the patient with any distressing emotions and memories that occur as they recount their experience.
More studies need to be done to confirm the effectiveness of brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD.
It is known for its use in group treatment for refugees.
The memory of a traumatic episode is then refined and understood.
This results from higher rates of smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet among people with PTSD.
Mindfulness has also been shown to help reduce PTSD symptoms.
One study showed that IRT reduced the severity of PTSD, improved sleep, and reduced instances of nightmares.
2017 Mar;62(3):186-198. doi:10.1177/0706743716659275
American Psychological Association.PTSD treatments.
