A list of different PTSD treatments

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
DynamicDidactic

DynamicDidactic

Still Kickin'
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2010
Messages
1,846
Reaction score
1,564
Members don't see this ad.
Hello all,

I am looking the common and less than common treatments used for PTSD. In particular, I want to know the common ones (e.g., CPT, PE), the more debated ones (e.g., EMDR), some other researched stuff (e.g., mindfulness, TM), and the pseudoscience (e.g., TFT).

Does anyone have a resource for this? Or can we just throw all these into this thread?

Thanks,
 
I don't think there's a research base to support this yet but I would also consider ACT when something like CPT or PE has been completed (and re-attempted in some cases) but does not prove to be effective.

https://www.actmindfully.com.au/upimages/ACT_in_the_Treatment_of_PTSD.pdf
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness - NCBI Bookshelf

Also, I attended the STRONG STAR PTSD conference a few years back and there were multiple presentations on massed PE and CPT (completing treatment in 2 weeks, rather than 12+ weekly sessions) and there was good preliminary data IIRC.
 
DynamicDidactic said:
Yes. I would love to get more of the pseudoscience-y and newer stuff that PTSD treatment folks would know more about. Like Somatic Experiencing.
Click to expand...

I hear people talk about Internal Family Systems as a treatment modality, often for “CPTSD”. I know nothing about it, but it sounds a little pseudosciencey from my viewpoint akin to EMDR-like claims.
 
I'll drop this in too then. I'm open to new treatments, but I don't like that you have to pay big money to be certified in this treatment. I've known a couple of people who have gone through that certification and have literally paid thousands. The materials are trademarked, which seems squishy to me.

What do people think of this paper?

Error - Cookies Turned Off

onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com
 
Last edited:
DynamicDidactic said:
Hello all,

I am looking the common and less than common treatments used for PTSD. In particular, I want to know the common ones (e.g., CPT, PE), the more debated ones (e.g., EMDR), some other researched stuff (e.g., mindfulness, TM), and the pseudoscience (e.g., TFT).

Does anyone have a resource for this? Or can we just throw all these into this thread?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
On this topic I'd just like to throw out there that there is a movement among some very influential academics and clinicians to slightly reframe this issue by shifting away from focusing so much on syndrome-specific treatment protocols and placing more emphasis on individualized case formulation and flexible employment of empirically-supported principles of behavior change in ways that are theory-driven and anchored in the body of psychological science literature. This position has been most fully presented (thus far) in the Process-Based CBT book by Hayes and Hofmann.
 
R. Matey said:
I'll drop this in too then. I'm open to new treatments, but I don't like that you have to pay big money to be certified in this treatment. I've known a couple of people who have gone through that certification and have literally paid thousands. The materials are trademarked, which seems squishy to me.

What do people think of this paper?

Error - Cookies Turned Off

onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Click to expand...
Yup, I need more like that. This is the only one I have heard of and I thought there may be more like this.
 
Fan_of_Meehl said:
On this topic I'd just like to throw out there that there is a movement among some very influential academics and clinicians to slightly reframe this issue by shifting away from focusing so much on syndrome-specific treatment protocols and placing more emphasis on individualized case formulation and flexible employment of empirically-supported principles of behavior change in ways that are theory-driven and anchored in the body of psychological science literature. This position has been most fully presented (thus far) in the Process-Based CBT book by Hayes and Hofmann.
Click to expand...
Agreed and basically a return to the work done in the 60s before the RCT funding rage that started in the 70s.

However, I am looking for a list of treatments that clinicians tend to use. For example, is there a psychodynamic PTSD-specific treatment?
 
I was recently introduced to a practitioner of Accelerated Resolution Therapy. It appears to be an offshoot of EMDR.

Mental Health & Wellness Training- ARISE Alliance Institute

ARISE Alliance Institute is a focused, mission-driven non-profit committed to improving the mental wellness of those living with mental health conditions.
artherapyinternational.org artherapyinternational.org
 
counselor2b said:
I was recently introduced to a practitioner of Accelerated Resolution Therapy. It appears to be an offshoot of EMDR.

Mental Health & Wellness Training- ARISE Alliance Institute

ARISE Alliance Institute is a focused, mission-driven non-profit committed to improving the mental wellness of those living with mental health conditions.
artherapyinternational.org artherapyinternational.org
Click to expand...

ART was all of the rage where I lived previously. Our VA psychology chief haaated it because there's no evidence for it.
 
Umm let's see... ones I see in the VA, note that some are sketchy despite their use in the VA: PE, CPT, EMDR, STAIR, some people use DBT as a PTSD treatment even though there isn't really any evidence for it unless it's DBT + PE, present-centered therapy, trauma-informed guilt reduction therapy, cognitive trauma therapy for interpersonal violence,, Seeking Safety (SUD cormorbidity), COPE (PE for people with co-occuring substance use), behavioral activation, emotional freedom techniques

Sketchy ones that are common in the community: somatic reexperiencing therapy, brainspotting, accelerated resolution therapy,

You may also want to check out the DoD/VA guidelines for treatment as they discuss numerous therapies and their effectiveness: VA.gov | Veterans Affairs For instance, I believe the report discusses mindfulness and that there really isn't any evidence that it's an effective intervention for PTSD
 
cara susanna said:
Umm let's see... ones I see in the VA, note that some are sketchy despite their use in the VA: PE, CPT, EMDR, STAIR, some people use DBT as a PTSD treatment even though there isn't really any evidence for it unless it's DBT + PE, present-centered therapy, trauma-informed guilt reduction therapy, cognitive trauma therapy for interpersonal violence,, Seeking Safety (SUD cormorbidity), COPE (PE for people with co-occuring substance use), behavioral activation, emotional freedom techniques

Sketchy ones that are common in the community: somatic reexperiencing therapy, brainspotting, accelerated resolution therapy,

You may also want to check out the DoD/VA guidelines for treatment as they discuss numerous therapies and their effectiveness: VA.gov | Veterans Affairs For instance, I believe the report discusses mindfulness and that there really isn't any evidence that it's an effective intervention for PTSD
Click to expand...
'brainspotting' sounds like something you'd need an MRI to diagnose
 
DynamicDidactic said:
Here is my list so far:
PE
DBT-PE
CPT
TF-CBT
EMDR
Present-Centered Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
CISD/Debriefing
Medication
Stress Inoculation Training for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Somatic Experiencing
Lets also say general CBT, humanistic, and psychodynamic therapy.

I am leaving off Safety Seeking and Mom Power.

Anything else?
Click to expand...
Of course trauma-focused EBP protocols (CPT, PE) are always preferred if you can get a veteran to do them.

In terms of what I would consider 'evidence-based' coping-focused or present-focused approaches, I find cognitive-behavioral approaches to anger management to be commonly used with PTSD patients with anger issues (and risky/violent behavior, especially) such as is outlined in the workbook Anger Management for Everyone (by Tafrate and Kassinove). And I think there are studies indicating that effective anger management--while not 'first line' as a treatment for PTSD--can help effect reductions in core PTSD symptomatology, presumably by lowering sympathetic activation, teaching positive coping skills (e.g., social problem solving and assertive communication), and general self-regulation strategies.

This one might sound weird but I also have found a very high prevalence of perfectionism in veteran populations in general and among PTSD sufferers in particular. I've gotten some mileage out of a cognitive-behavioral approach to perfectionism (Monica Basco has a good book, Freeing Yourself from the Chains of Perfectionism) to lead to some symptom reduction over time and improvements in mood and relationships.
 
Fan_of_Meehl said:
This one might sound weird but I also have found a very high prevalence of perfectionism in veteran populations in general and among PTSD sufferers in particular. I've gotten some mileage out of a cognitive-behavioral approach to perfectionism (Monica Basco has a good book, Freeing Yourself from the Chains of Perfectionism) to lead to some symptom reduction over time and improvements in mood and relationships.
Click to expand...

In the newer cohorts, it tends to be a...special recipe of perfectionism. Almost like everyone else needs to adhere to these rules and regs, but I am am exempt. But, for Vietnam era and earlier, I'd definitely agree to the perfectionism piece.
 
The FDA or some similar organization used to have a website that listed empirically based/derived psychotherapies. Can't find it now, but someone might want to know about some arcane thing.
 
WisNeuro said:
Considering the FDAs track record, I wonder how they come to a conclusion that something is empirically supported in their eyes?
Click to expand...


Whelp, you'd be right. They suspended the program in 2018, due to a lack of scientific rigor.


Suspension of the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices: the importance of adhering to the evidence - PMC

Recently the United States Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use disclosed having suspended the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices, stating it was so deficient in both rigor and breadth that it must be ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 
DynamicDidactic said:
Here is my list so far:
PE
DBT-PE
CPT
TF-CBT
EMDR
Present-Centered Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
CISD/Debriefing
Medication
Stress Inoculation Training for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Somatic Experiencing
Lets also say general CBT, humanistic, and psychodynamic therapy.

I am leaving off Safety Seeking and Mom Power.

Anything else?
Click to expand...

-STAIR
-IPT for PTSD
-MBCT for PTSD (not evidence based but promising results)
 
PsyDr said:
Whelp, you'd be right. They suspended the program in 2018, due to a lack of scientific rigor.


Suspension of the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices: the importance of adhering to the evidence - PMC

Recently the United States Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use disclosed having suspended the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices, stating it was so deficient in both rigor and breadth that it must be ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Click to expand...
I remember this. It was very skeptical timing.
 
Adaptive Disclosure is another psychotherapy - focused on Service Members/Veterans. There's been an open trial (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.09.001) and there is at least one current RCT (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2017.07.012).

As for nontraditional "treatments" we have...
👍
 
To add on here-- IPT for PTSD has similar efficacy to PE. I've started using it with good success so far. Check out John Markowitz.
 
Another CBT-based one- HOPE (Helping to Overcome PTSD through Empowerment) treatment for IPV-related PTSD
DOI: 10.1177/0361684320953120
DOI: 10.1002/jts.22117
 
On R/psychotherapy, there were multiple therapists saying they use tarot cards in session. I was quite surprised. I didn’t know that was a thing.
 
PharmD500 said:
On R/psychotherapy, there were multiple therapists saying they use tarot cards in session. I was quite surprised. I didn’t know that was a thing.
Click to expand...

It is not a thing. Idk what R/ is. but that's wild.

I suspect that these are masters providers seeing community folk with no real d/o and just trying to make a buck.
 
Last edited:
PharmD500 said:
On R/psychotherapy, there were multiple therapists saying they use tarot cards in session. I was quite surprised. I didn’t know that was a thing.
Click to expand...

I'll bet if you find out where they got their degrees, you'll find some common threads.
 
AbnormalPsych said:
Idk what R/ is. but that's wild.
Click to expand...


Some posts:
As a tarot card reader AND a therapist myself, I honestly feel they are more closely linked than one would think. So often people I read tarot for really just need to go see a therapist. And our sessions are very similar. Therapy is like the scientific, more studied version of tarot reading. Both use intuition to discuss client's deeper issues with them and listen to client's vent in ways that make them feel better and understood.
Click to expand...

I’ve run tarot therapy groups where we look at different suits and describe what we see, come up with our own interpretations, imagine what we might learn from certain figures in the cards, ask ourselves what or who it reminds us of...a practice in metaphor and noticing the meaning making we do with everything, and can offer new perspectives to our struggles that otherwise can be hard to talk about.
Click to expand...
 
PharmD500 said:
On R/psychotherapy, there were multiple therapists saying they use tarot cards in session. I was quite surprised. I didn’t know that was a thing.
Click to expand...

This trend is thinly legitimatized by the FIT people (see article below). A natural conclusion of their position. I think master's level clinicians might favor it because supportive interventions are often the most reinforced in their training.

www.psychotherapynetworker.org

How Psychotherapy Lost Its Magick

www.psychotherapynetworker.org www.psychotherapynetworker.org
 
Last edited:
DynamicDidactic said:


Some posts:
Click to expand...

You found it. I was quite surprised when I read it. Especially the one saying therapy is essentially the more scientific version of tarot readings. They seem like well-meaning people, and hopefully it’s helping their clients. I just wonder if they should call themselves spiritual healers or something other than licensed professionals.
 
I have just invented poker card group therapy. Everyone with great insurance , and a $200 buy-in is welcome to attend. We will meet every 3rd Thursday at 8pm, and continue on until I go to prison for insurance fraud.

We can look at different suits and describe what we see, come up with our own interpretations, use some intuition to determine other group members’ experiences. It’s like a metaphor.
 
PsyDr said:
I have just invented poker card group therapy. Everyone with great insurance , and a $200 buy-in is welcome to attend. We will meet every 3rd Thursday at 8pm, and continue on until I go to prison for insurance fraud.

We can look at different suits and describe what we see, come up with our own interpretations, use some intuition to determine other group members’ experiences. It’s like a metaphor.
Click to expand...

What is the drink/snack situation? Need a co-therapist?
 
PsyDr said:
I have just invented poker card group therapy. Everyone with great insurance , and a $200 buy-in is welcome to attend. We will meet every 3rd Thursday at 8pm, and continue on until I go to prison for insurance fraud.

We can look at different suits and describe what we see, come up with our own interpretations, use some intuition to determine other group members’ experiences. It’s like a metaphor.
Click to expand...

Only if it's Texas hold 'em, five card stud doesn't have the same treatment effects.
 
AbnormalPsych said:
What is the drink/snack situation? Need a co-therapist?
Click to expand...

Depends on insurance. Good stuff? Charcuterie plates, those olive fed steaks from Vegas (I don’t live anywhere near the 5 places licensed to sell Kobe), Japanese whiskies, craft beers, whites excluding dom. HMO nonsense? Pizza and lite beer.

But your co-therapist comment made me realize something! Can I bill my own healthcare insurance for my own professional services/self analysis/intervention?! Later, nerds. Psydr has cracked the matrix.


R. Matey said:
Only if it's Texas hold 'em, five card stud doesn't have the same treatment effects.
Click to expand...

I don’t play poker! We both know I’m more campy Joker than Batman. Plus, there are table games that follow the binomial theorem which you can combine with Monte Carlo simulations.
 
Last edited:
PsyDr said:
I don’t play poker! We both know I’m more campy Joker than Batman. Plus, there are table games that follow the binomial theorem which you can combine with Monte Carlo simulations.
Click to expand...

I'll remember that the next time I'm rolling a six sided die when it's snowing outside.
 
PsyDr said:
Plus, there are table games that follow the binomial theorem which you can combine with Monte Carlo simulations.
Click to expand...

giphy.gif
 
AbnormalPsych said:
giphy.gif
Click to expand...
Welp...according to my inbox there's a new 'VA approved holistic healing treatment' (complete with smartphone app) that has been 'praised in CNN, Cosmo, Women's Health, Psychology Today, and many more [souces]'

You guessed it... "Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique)"

Yeah...I'll get right on that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

cara susanna
Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) for PTSD?
Replies
18
Views
980
Ollie123
O
The Cinnabon
A layman's book on trauma/ptsd?
Replies
6
Views
1K
gohogwild
gohogwild
A
Attention impairment and early-childhood trauma: differentiating PTSD from PTSD+ADHD
Replies
9
Views
1K
cara susanna
cara susanna
T
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women's Health or PTSD--San Francisco VA Medical Center
Replies
0
Views
748
TraumaDoctor
T
B
2024-2025 VA Post Doc in PTSD/ Trauma
Replies
3
Views
1K
cara susanna
cara susanna
Top