PTSD: National Center for PTSD
VA/DoD 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of PTSD
VA/DoD 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of PTSD
The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense (VA/DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD) was updated in 2023 to provide recommendations based upon the best information available at the time of publication. Recommendations in the CPG are designed to assist clinical decision making; they do not establish a standard of care or present an exclusive course of case management. A panel of multidisciplinary experts performed a systematic review of clinical and epidemiological evidence for the management of PTSD. This guideline provides an explanation of the logical relationships among various care options and health outcomes while rating both the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations. The information can be used to guide clinical care decisions and to identify areas of future research needed in the field.
The major recommendations in the CPG cover:
- Diagnosis and assessment of PTSD
- Prevention of PTSD
- Treatment of PTSD
- Treatment of PTSD with co-occurring conditions
Download the full CPG, Clinician Summary, and Quick Reference Guide from VA's website.
Additional CPG Resources
Materials to support use of the CPG are currently being produced by the National Center for PTSD. Those materials will be included on this page as soon as available.
Continuing Education courses
Learn about the CPG recommendations in our PTSD Consult Lecture Series. Webinars can be viewed live (on the date listed) for continuing education credit, or as a recording without accreditation:
- Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD 2023: Psychotherapy Recommendations (June 21, 2023)
- Clinical Practice Guideline for 2023: Medication & Other Biological Treatments (July 19. 2023)
- Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD 2023: Complimentary, Integrative and Alternative Approaches (September 20, 2023)
PTSD Consultation Program
Any provider who treats Veterans with PTSD can ask a question or request consultation about PTSD-related issues. The PTSD Consultation Program is free.
You May Also Be Interested In

VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD (2023)
Get information on evidence-based treatment recommendations for PTSD.

Clinician's Guide to Medications for PTSD
Get key information and guidance on the best medications for PTSD.