PTSD Treatment Protocols

            Dr. Jenkins mentions three treatment principles that therapists must practice when working with individuals suffering from PTSD.  We must address the symptoms and co-morbid conditions, improve adaptive functioning to return the client to a state of safety and trust, and limit the generalization of the initial trauma and protect against relapse (Jenkins & Lyles, n.d.).  Taking these in to account, I believe the method of treatment used will depend upon the individual seeking treatment.  Conducting an effective screening and assessment process with the individual will help to determine the symptoms they are experiencing, and establish a process for treatment.  The treatment chosen should address the individual’s memory and emotional regulation and will involve exploring and exposure to the trauma and modifying the maladaptive beliefs and thoughts about the incident (Jenkins & Lyles, n.d.).

            I believe the most effective method of treatment will involve all of the domains discussed in the video: exposure, CBT, and medical (if necessary).  Exposure therapy and CBT are used in a variety of therapies and they involve exposing the individual to the trauma, and reframing their thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions about the trauma and themselves.  Trauma Incident Reduction (TIR) is a specific method of treatment that involves having the client treat a traumatic incident like a video that can be rewound to the beginning and played completely through without speaking (Schiaraldi, 2009).  When finished, the therapist asked the individual to describe what happened while they were “viewing” the tape.  The individual is then instructed to rewind the tape and play it through again while describing it.  The process is repeated until an emotional peak is reached, and negative emotions diminish with each repetition.

            Of the treatments discussed, medical treatment alone would be least effective.  Many people are resistant to the use of medication even though they may be self-medicating with other substances or behaviors (Jenkins & Lyle, 2009).  Benzodiazepines, in particular, are addictive and may contribute to the individual self-medicating, which may lead to overdose.  Medications should be used in conjunction with therapy and not alone.

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References

Jenkins, D., & Lyles, M. (n.d.). Treatment protocols for ptsd [Video file].

Schiraldi, G. R. (2009). The post-traumatic stress disorder sourcebook: A guide to healing, recovery, and growth (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.