title: Update on the management of post-traumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in people exposed to life-threatening trauma. GPs may be seeing more patients with post-traumatic stress disorder as military personnel return from overseas deployments. The condition can present in various ways. To reduce the likelihood of missed or delayed diagnosis GPs can screen at-risk populations. A comprehensive assessment is recommended. Specialist referral may be required, particularly if there are other mental health problems. Trauma-focused psychological therapies should be offered as the first line of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Usually 8-12 sessions are needed for a therapeutic effect. If drug treatment is needed, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first line. Other drugs used in post-traumatic stress disorder include antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and prazosin.
authors.affiliation: Australian Defence Force Centre for Mental Health, HMAS Penguin, Mosman, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder; prazosin; psychotherapy; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors