PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Trauma-informed care is integral to working with Veterans across health care settings. Health care workers may better optimize health care utilization and outcomes by understanding trauma-related considerations in service delivery for Veterans by enhancing feelings of trust and safety.

This online course offers health care workers information about the benefits of adopting a trauma-informed approach to care. The authors summarize relevant literature, use case-based examples, and highlight information specific to Veterans. Recommendations for incorporating trauma-informed care into practice across a variety of health care settings are included.

Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy is a manualized, effective, time-limited treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) consistently supported as a first-line treatment in clinical practice guidelines. PE typically includes 8 to 15, 90-minute sessions. This longer session length can create a barrier to use in clinical settings where the standard is a 60-minute session.

This online course reviews efficacy research supporting PE delivered in 60-minute sessions. The author describes the research on 60-minute PE sessions and offers guidance to mental health providers on how to implement PE in 60-minute sessions in clinical practice.

Trauma-focused psychotherapies are recommended for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline (VA/DoD CPG; 2023). Present-Centered Therapy (PCT) is a suggested treatment, an evidence-based alternative if, following shared decision-making, Veterans decline trauma-focused treatment.

This online course describes the development of PCT, as well as empirical support and session content. The authors share case studies to support clinical professionals in their ability to implement this psychotherapy in practice.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are reviewed and updated as research evolves. In 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense updated the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder.

This online course describes the VA/DoD CPG recommendations for the treatment of PTSD using medications and non-pharmacological, biological treatments. Learn about the CPG development process and resources related to the guidelines, shared decision-making, and provider consultation that support the implementation of these evidence-based treatments.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) support the goal of improving care by promoting best practices based on the most up-to-date evidence. In 2023 the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense collaborated to update the Clinical Practice Guideline for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder.

This course provides an overview of the psychotherapy treatment recommendations. Learn about the research that informed the CPG recommendations and the process of recommendation development. Resources that support the implementation of evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD in clinical practice are reviewed.