Treatment
PTSD is a treatable condition and therefore it is important to recognize. Without treatment, PTSD is disabling in 50% of cases. Slightly less than 50% of patients are untreated. Informing the patient about the illness and its course through educational counseling help patients and their families cope. Cognitive therapy (a specific form of interactive counseling) requires referral to a psychologist experienced in this form of counseling.
SSRIs (antidepressants) may be necessary. The graph below is from a study by Brady, etal (JAMA 2000, 283:1837) comparing the change in Q-LES-Q* scores in patients taking an SSRI, Sertraline (n=93) versus patients taking a placebo (n=90).