PTSD: National Center for PTSD
2017 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of PTSD
2017 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of PTSD
The VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) was updated in 2017 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 major recommendations in the CPG cover:
- general clinical management
- 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 pocket guide from VA's website.
Additional CPG Resources
The CPG materials below were produced by the National Center for PTSD to support providers.
Powerpoint slide deck
- Download (PPTX) a presentation slide deck of key recommendations from the CPG
Factsheets
- Mental Health Providers: Help Veterans Choose Effective PTSD Treatments (PDF)
- Primary Care Providers: PTSD Treatment Starts with You (PDF)
- Psychiatric Care Providers: Key Recommendations (PDF)
- PTSD Treatment Works: Take the Step Towards Recovery (PDF) for Veterans
Continuing Education courses
Learn about the CPG recommendations in our PTSD 101 online courses:
- 2017 Revised Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD: Recommendations for Psychotherapy
- 2017 Revised Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD: Recommendations for Medications
- 2017 Revised Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD: How It Impacts Primary Care
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 (2017)
Get information on evidence based psychotherapies for PTSD.

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