Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnostic and Management Approach

Abstract

Many psychiatric diseases are presenting with anxiety and distress in patients, and these often reduce the quality of life and daily functioning. Of the anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that occurs in people who have suffered psychological or physical trauma. In this review, we discuss post-traumatic stress disorder from etiology and risk factors, clinical features, medical and psychotherapeutic management, and follow-up. PubMed database was used for articles selection, papers were obtained and reviewed. PubMed database was used for articles selection, and the following keys terms: post-traumatic stress disorder, risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Non-medical treatment should be attempted first in PTSD cases, followed by counseling through cognitive behavioral therapy and eye desensitization. Counseling should include the development of personal resilience against traumatic events as this helps patients deal better and effectively with trauma. Medications could alleviate many symptoms and include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and atypical antidepressants. PTSD is a combined mental issue of anxiety and stress, its management should be done according to symptom severity. This includes a combination of psychotherapeutic follow-up, appropriate counseling, and medications.