Post-traumatic stress disorder in primary care practice.
OBJECTIVE
To provide clinicians in primary care settings with guidelines on evaluation, diagnosis, and management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


METHODS
Research-based articles in the medical and psychiatric literature, review articles, and diagnostic criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
PTSD is a disorder where psychological and physiological reactions are closely related. Populations at risk include survivors of motor vehicle accidents, natural and man-made disasters, torture, and childhood sexual abuse, as well as combat veterans.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a history of recent trauma should be targeted for early screening and intervention. Effective treatment of PTSD is a three-stage process consisting of stabilization of symptoms, processing of traumatic perceptions, and integration of trauma into the patient's world- and self-view.
Miller
J L
JL
Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver, WA, USA. jlmarnp@pacifier.com
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents