Treatments Options for Trauma Survivors with PTSD
Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D., IBCLC, FAPA, Board Member, PATTCh
Traumatic events can have a long-term impact on both your mental health and the overall quality of your life. Fortunately, you have a wide range of possible treatment options available to you. Comprehensive trauma treatment involves patient education, peer support, trauma-focused psychotherapy, and medications.
Education and Peer Counseling
The role of both patient education and peer counseling is to help you understand your experiences and reactions after trauma. Education and support lets you know that your reactions are both normal and predictable, and your symptoms are not your fault
Trauma-focused Psychotherapy
The two most effective therapies for PTSD and trauma symptoms are cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) includes several modalities, including cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, and stress-inoculation therapy. All types of therapy address beliefs caused by trauma (e.g., that you are helpless), also helps counter conditioned-fear responses. If treatment has been successful, you will be able to confront your traumatic past without triggering PTSD symptoms (Friedman, Cohen, Foa, & Keane, 2009).
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a highly effective and considered a frontline treatment for PTSD. In EMDR, you are instructed to think about your traumatic experience while moving your eyes back and forth following the therapist’s fingers as they briefly move across your field of vision (Friedman, 2001; Friedman, et al., 2009; van der Kolk, 2002). It is based on the hypothesis that saccadic eye movements can reprogram the brain, and therefore can be used to help alleviate the emotional impact of trauma (Friedman, et al., 2009). EMDR reduces symptoms after just a few sessions. Certified practitioners of EMDR can be found at the EMDR Institute or the EMDR International Association.
Medications
There are several classes of medications that can be used to treat PTSD.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are a key part of treatment for PTSD. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are frontline medication choices in that they treat all types of PTSD symptoms, and include medications, such as Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Prozac, and Effexor (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 2009).
Adrenergic Agents and Atypical Antipsychotics
Other medications that may be added if the SSRIs/SNRIs and/or psychotherapy are not bringing you sufficient relief of symptoms. These include adrenergic agents and atypical antipsychotics. These can be helpful for symptoms such as nightmares and intrusive thoughts (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 2009).
Benzodiazepines
In the past, trauma survivors were often been prescribed benzodiazepines, such as Valium, to help them cope their trauma symptoms. These medications are no longer considered appropriate for patients with trauma because they can make depression worse, and are also addictive (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 2009).
For information on all of these types of medications that can be safely used while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, visit the InfantRisk Center Website.
Summary
If you have experienced trauma, you do not need to continue to suffer in silence. You have many treatment options. And in most cases, these treatments can be safely used while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. For more information, visit the National Center for PTSD, or the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
References
Friedman, M. J. (2001). Posttraumatic stress disorder: The latest assessment and treatment strategies. Kansas City, MO: Compact Clinicals.
Friedman, M. J., Cohen, J. A., Foa, E. B., & Keane, T. M. (2009). Integration and summary. In E. B. Foa, T. M. Keane, M. J. Friedman & J. A. Cohen (Eds.), Effective treatments for PTSD: Practice guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (pp. 617-642). New York: Guilford.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (Ed.). (2009). Effective Treatments for PTSD: Psychopharmacology for adults (Guideline 6). New York: Guilford.
Kendall-Tackett, K. A. (2010). Depression in new mothers: Causes, consequences and treatment options, 2nd Edition. London: Routledge.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2002). Assessment and treatment of complex PTSD. In R. Yehuda (Ed.), Treating trauma survivors with PTSD (pp. 127-156). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Press.
Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D., IBCLC is a health psychologist and board-certified lactation consultant. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in both health and trauma psychology, and is a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Texas Tech University School of Medicine in Amarillo, Texas. She is the owner of Praeclarus Press, a small press focusing on women’s health and is editor-in-chief of the journal Clinical Lactation.
Other ways to connect with Kathleen Kendall-Tackett: Uppity Science Chick; Breastfeeding Made Simple, Kathleen’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.kendalltackett