Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Trauma-focused therapy (CPT, PE, EMDR), FDA-approved medication, and intensive residential care for PTSD and complex trauma.
PTSD affects roughly 6% of U.S. adults at some point in life. It is treatable — evidence-based trauma-focused therapies produce meaningful, lasting recovery for most people who complete them.
PTSD is diagnosed when trauma-related symptoms persist beyond one month after exposure to a traumatic event. Modern evidence-based treatments (CPT, PE, EMDR) produce response rates above 60% in clinical trials.
DSM-5 Criteria
Following exposure to a traumatic event, PTSD criteria require at least one symptom in each of four clusters lasting more than one month: intrusion symptoms (unwanted memories, nightmares, flashbacks); avoidance; negative alterations in cognition or mood; alterations in arousal and reactivity. Significant distress or impairment is required.
Evidence-Based Treatment
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) — structured 12-session protocol focused on trauma-related stuck beliefs. Response rates above 60%.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) — imaginal plus in vivo exposure. 8–15 sessions. Comparable outcomes to CPT.
EMDR — listed as first-line by APA, VA/DoD, and WHO.
Sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved. Prazosin for trauma nightmares.
Residential Care
Residential PTSD treatment is appropriate when symptoms are severe enough to prevent function, when outpatient therapy hasn’t been tolerable, when co-occurring substance use is destabilizing treatment, or for complex multi-incident trauma histories. Programs run 30–90 days with daily trauma-focused therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which trauma therapy works best?
CPT, PE, and EMDR all have strong evidence and produce comparable outcomes. Choice often comes down to clinician training, personal preference, and tolerance for exposure work.
What is complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD describes the pattern of symptoms following repeated or developmental trauma — core PTSD symptoms plus difficulties with emotion regulation, self-concept, and relationships. Typically requires longer treatment with additional skills work (DBT, IFS).
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