Psychiatric care for individuals with PTSD involves a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s condition and the development of a personalised treatment plan to manage symptoms.
It is important to identify co-existing conditions such as Mood Disorders, including Depressive Disorder, and manage appropriately.
Very commonly individuals with PTSD are referred to Psychologists and Trauma Therapists for Trauma-Focussed CBT (TF-CBT) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).
A working theory, is that Trauma memories, are usually embedded in “Trauma Memory” within the Amygdalae in the mid-brain, part of the ‘Flight, Fright, Freeze” Threat system. In TF-CBT incorporating EMDR, memories are copied into “Autobiographical Memory” – within the Hippocampi – which does not enlist activation of the Threat System. Whatever the exact process, EMDR is surprisingly effective in managing symptoms of PTSD.
Treatment involves active collaboration between the patient and the Psychologist / Trauma therapist – with oversight by me a the Psychiatrist, with regular evaluations and modifications to the treatment plan as necessary.
