PTSD 101 Curriculum

This course reviews strategies for improving patients' motivation to engage in treatment and change long-standing maladaptive ways of coping with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Topics reviewed include behaviors that PTSD patients are often ambivalent about changing, roadblocks to admitting need to change, overview of a PTSD motivation enhancement group, treatment-related beliefs (fears and expectancies), and therapeutic alliance factors. Presenters: Ronald Murphy, PhD and Craig Rosen, PhD

Pharmacological interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common, and considerable research has been conducted on the effectiveness of such treatment. This course provides a review of the human stress system and the relationship between neurotransmitters and PTSD. It then goes on to review controlled medication trials for PTSD and summarizes the relative evidence for psychotherapy versus pharmacological interventions. The author also discusses current practices for combining treatments and for managing comorbid conditions. Presenter: Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD

This course reviews review the physical health effects of traumatic exposure. Research findings from both civilian and military populations are featured. The presenter illustrates how a person's reaction to trauma--posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) especially--mediates the effect of exposure on health. Presenter: Paula P. Schnurr, PhD

This presentation describes the clinical application of Prolonged Exposure (PE) and provides a thorough review of research supporting its use for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The author also reviews the 2010 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline recommendation for the use of PE with patients who have PTSD. Presenter: Sheila Rauch, PhD, ABPP

This course describes in detail the interaction between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and chronic pain, with a special focus on Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. The presentation reviews the VA/DoD 2010 Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations for treating pain and PTSD and discusses useful treatment approaches. Presenter: Carri-Ann Gibson, MD, DAAPM

This course summarizes the recommendations in the VA DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD for management of acute stress and prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Presenter: Patricia Watson, PhD

This course provides an overview of resilience and posttraumatic growth. The author reviews the scientific literature behind resilience to trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also describes how clinicians can help foster resilience in their patients. Presenter: Steven Southwick, MD

Military sexual trauma is a recent area of research and clinical concern. This course defines military sexual trauma (MST), sexual harassment, and sexual assault, and provides prevalence rates for these events in the military. Effects on mental health---including the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)---approaches to treatment, and common themes of treatment are presented. Presenter: Amy E. Street, PhD

This course gives an overview of the VA/DoD 2010 clinical practice guideline recommendations for managing sleep problems in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The presenters describe primary sleep disorders and comorbid conditions, as well as a general approach and evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions to treat these issues. Presenters: Bruce Capehart, MD, MBA, and Jason DeViva, PhD

This course describes Army and Marine Corps programs created to help service members prevent and manage combat and operational stress, and discusses assessment and treatment implications. It presents information regarding military demographics, branches, rank, status, and stressors, and provides useful terminology and visuals to help the viewer understand military culture. Presenter: Patricia Watson, PhD

This presentation offers an overview of the negative effects of smoking, particularly on Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It helps providers understand the rationale and evidence for providing tobacco cessation treatment to patients. The presenters provide an overview of psychological and pharmacological smoking cessation interventions. Presenters: Miles McFall, PhD and Andrew J. Saxon, MD

This course provides an overview of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It covers diagnostic criteria, prevalence rates, course, comorbidity, and risk factors in both Veteran and civilian populations. Presenter: Jessica Hamblen, PhD

This course examines the functional anatomy of emotion, memory, and behavior circuits. The presenter discusses types of injuries and common functioning deficits, as well as prevalence rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in OEF/OIF veterans. A discussion of the connections between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and TBI is also provided, along with an overview of assessment and treatment. Presenter: Robin A. Hurley, MD, FANPA