PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Co-Occurring Conditions

PTSD often co-occurs with other mental health problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and TBI. Below learn more about treating these co-occurring conditions. VA Providers can also see the provider section of VA Mental Health website.

Suicide

• Introduction to PTSD and Suicide: Conceptualization and Assessment
  This course reviews the scope of Veteran suicide and its relationship to PTSD. Suicide risk assessment and therapeutic risk management are explained.
• The Relationship Between PTSD and Suicide
  This fact sheet explores the relation between PTSD and suicide. It offers providers information about risk factors and reasons for suicide as well as dealing with suicide.
• Assessing and Responding to Suicidal Intent: A Fact Sheet for Providers (PDF)
  Exposure to neglect, violence, homelessness, abuse, or poverty may encourage suicidal intent.

Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

• Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
  This PTSD 101 online course reviews the earlier 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations for managing substance use disorders and PTSD through psychotherapy and pharmacology.
• Treatment of Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorder in Veterans Affairs
  Reviews the prevalence and evidence-based treatment recommendations for co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder (SUD) among Veterans using VA care.
• Marijuana Use and PTSD among Veterans
  There is no evidence at this time that marijuana is an effective treatment for PTSD. This fact sheet reviews the prevalence of marijuana use and associated problems, and offers clinical recommendations for treatment of marijuana addiction in people with PTSD.
• Smoking Cessation
  This PTSD 101 course describes the rationale and evidence for integrating smoking cessation into PTSD treatment. Overview of psychological and pharmacological interventions.
• Report of Consensus Conference: Practice Recommendations for Treatment of Veterans with Comorbid Substance Use Disorder and PTSD (PDF)
  Recommendations from multidisciplinary workgroup. This PDF file may be printed and used as a handout.
• Disasters and Substance Abuse or Dependence
  Reviews research on substance use, abuse, and dependence following disasters.
• VA Substance Abuse Program Locator
  Link for the VA web-based Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program Locator.

Neurocognitive Problems

• Dementia and PTSD
  This course reviews the significance of PTSD in the context of aging or cognitive decline. Assessment and treatment recommendations for PTSD with co-occurring dementia are presented.
• Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD
  Background information about traumatic brain injury and how it relates to PTSD. Implications for diagnosis and treatment.
• Traumatic Brain Injury
  This PTSD 101 course outlines the neuropsychiatry of TBI. Reviews the types of TBI, common functioning deficits, the relationship between PTSD and TBI, assessment, and treatment.
• Report of Consensus Conference: Practice Recommendations for Treatment of Veterans with Comorbid TBI, Pain, and PTSD (PDF)
  Consensus statement from multidisciplinary workgroup with recommendations to guide clinical practice for Veterans suffering from co-occuring PTSD, history of mTBI, and pain.
• Co-occurring PTSD and Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD)
  Reviews research on the connection between PTSD and neurocognitive disorders (NCD), such as traumatic brain injury and dementia. Possible risk factors for concurrent PTSD and NCD are discussed.
• Assessment and Treatment for PTSD with Co-occurring Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD)
  Describes evidence for assessment and evidence-based treatments for PTSD that are appropriate for those with concurrent mild neurocognitive disorders, such as dementia.

Other Reactions to Trauma

• Managing Anger: A Treatment for Those with PTSD
  This online course is designed to teach providers to use a 12-session anger management group treatment for those who have PTSD.
• Research Findings on PTSD and Violence
  Reviews research on the association between PTSD and violence, including a discussion of important issues to consider when interpreting findings.
• Assessing Risk of Violence in Individuals with PTSD
  Discusses risk assessment strategies and screening instruments for violent behavior with PTSD and includes tips for providers to reduce risk.
• Moral Injury in the Context of War
  Describes moral injury and its aftermath in the context of war. Explains the relationship between moral injury and PTSD and presents treatment implications.
• Traumatic Grief: Symptomatology and Treatment for the Iraq War Veteran
  Describes traumatic grief and distinguishes between normal and pathological grief. Discusses the assessment and treatment of acute and complicated grief in returning Iraq War Veterans.
• Managing Grief after Disaster
  Clinical advice regarding managing grief after a disaster, including addressing traumatic grief, complications of bereavement, and risk factors.

Physical Health Conditions

• PTSD and Physical Health
  Provides information on the relationships between trauma, PTSD, and physical health; specific health problems associated with PTSD; health-risk behaviors and PTSD, and more.
• Understanding Pathways from Traumatic Exposure to Physical Health
  This PTSD 101 online course explains a multidimensional model of trauma, PTSD and physical health and mechanisms through which PTSD could promote poor health.
• The Experience of Chronic Pain and PTSD: A Guide for Health Care Providers
  Discusses chronic pain and how it may be related to trauma and PTSD. Includes recommendations for health care providers on handling chronic pain and assessing for trauma.
• PTSD and Chronic Pain
  This PTSD 101 online course describes in detail the interaction between PTSD symptoms and chronic pain, with a special focus on Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. Reviews the earlier 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations for treating pain and PTSD and discusses useful treatment approaches.

Sleep Problems

• Sleep Problems in Veterans with PTSD
  Provides information on the prevalence of sleep problems that are common with PTSD and reviews best practices for treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).
• Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Problems in PTSD
  This online course provides information on pharmacological and cognitive behavioral interventions for PTSD-related sleep problems. CE/CME credits are available for 5 different modules.
• Sleep Problems, Insomnia, and PTSD
  This PTSD 101 online course reviews the earlier 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations for treating sleep problems, insomnia, and PTSD. Describes general treatment approach as well as evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions.

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