Psychiatric Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 3.6 percent of the U.S. adult population (more than eight million Americans) according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Post-traumatic stress can develop as a result of bad childhood experiences, a tragic family death, military service, and more. Psychiatric care is often a recommended form of treatment for post-traumatic stress.

How a psychiatrist can help with post-traumatic stress

There are different types of psychiatric care for treating post-traumatic stress. The psychiatrist can personalize each patient’s treatment plan according to what is best for their needs and preferences. Some of the more commonly utilized types of psychiatric treatment are cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, and stress inoculation therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy, also called CBT, focuses on the individual’s thoughts and feelings about the traumatic event. The goal is to change the way the traumatic event is viewed by the patient and help them cope with the experience in a healthier manner. CBT is a long-term treatment process. Treatment plans typically last between 12 and 16 weeks, although many patients receive ongoing psychiatric treatment that can last for years.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a form of CBT that is often effective in treating post-traumatic stress. It focuses more on the way the patient processes the traumatic experience, including how it affects the way they view themselves, others, and the world in general. The goal of CPT is to address undesirable feelings and thoughts that are directly related to the trauma and to improve the way they view themselves as well as their worldview.

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE)

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE) is also a form of CBT that focuses on trauma-related memories and seeks to gradually improve the feelings that surround those memories. PE is often effective for patients who have avoided dealing with the trauma for an extended amount of time by promptly dismissing memories and going to extensive measures to avoid any potential triggers.

Stress inoculation therapy (SIT)

Stress inoculation therapy (SIT), which is also a type of CBT, focuses on coping mechanisms to help patients with post-traumatic stress deal with stressful memories, feelings, thoughts, and actions about the traumatic experience. This may include teaching coping skills such as breathing techniques, muscle relaxation, and more.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is not recommended quite as often as the aforementioned forms of psychiatric care services. However, it can help some individuals who are dealing with post-traumatic stress. This method of care involves bilateral stimulation to address the emotions that arise from the traumatic memories.

Psychiatric treatment for post-traumatic stress FAQs

Below are four common questions that psychiatric professionals receive about PTSD treatment.

How do I determine which treatment option is best for me?

The best way to ensure the most effective psychiatric treatment solution is to visit a licensed professional for a consultation. Every treatment plan is entirely personalized, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In many cases, treatment involves a combination of multiple types of therapy and other forms of treatment (i.e. medication and alternative therapies).

What type of results can I expect from psychiatric treatment?

The results vary for each patient. Some patients experience complete remission of their symptoms, whereas others may slowly improve over time and require additional treatments to help alleviate their symptoms of PTSD. With that said, more than 60% of patients are believed to respond positively and see improvements through psychiatric treatment.

How many sessions does it take to treat PTSD?

Similar to the above answer, results vary for each patient. However, take solace in the fact that the majority of patients do see notable improvements in their symptoms in as little as 12 weeks (with one session per week on average). Of course, there are many factors that influence the success of treatment.

Can I effectively treat my PTSD without medication?

Medication is often a part of PTSD treatment. In particular, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (or SSRIs) play a role for many patients. However, it is certainly possible to see symptom relief with psychiatric care sessions alone, and many patients are able to treat their PTSD effectively without any medications.

Schedule an initial session with a licensed psychiatrist

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, then we encourage you to call us or send us a message today to schedule a visit with our psychiatrist. We take pride in helping our patients find the relief they need through psychiatric care services and other forms of post-traumatic stress treatment.

Request an appointment here: https://mb.futurepsychsolutions.com or call Future Psych Ketamine Clinics at (843) 788-9718 for an appointment in our Myrtle Beach office.

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