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Identifying Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur when an individual has experienced a terrifying ordeal or event such as military combat, a natural disaster, terrorist incident, serious accident, or a violent personal assault.
People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks. Some individuals may detach to avoid reminders of the traumatic event, and end up feeling disconnected or estranged from family and friends. Individuals experiencing PTSD can experience:
| • | difficulty sleeping | • | feeling tense or on guard at all times |
| • | trouble concentrating | • | startling easily |
| • | irritability |
Symptoms can be severe and last long enough to significantly impair an individual's daily life. PTSD is complicated by the fact that it frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, alcohol or drug abuse, or any number of other mental health problems. PTSD is also associated with low functioning in social or family groups, including job instability, and marital or parenting issues. More
Practice Guidelines
Clinical or practice guidelines bring together the best evidence-based and clinical knowledge necessary for sound decision-making about a specific health problem.
Clinical Assessment Tools
Supplies details about treatment plans based on research and established treatment strategies and reassessments, including clinician –administered assessments, self-report assessment tools, and screening for PTSD in a primary care setting.
Treatment Options
Review the recommended therapies for treating PTSD, including general information about drug therapy.
Clinician Administered Treatment Resources
This resource list includes the Iraq War Clinician's Guide, and links to several other manuals focused on exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring.
TRICARE Behavioral Health Benefits
The U.S. Department of Defense military health care system offers TRICARE Prime, Extra and Standard benefits to active duty service members, families and retirees. TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based health plan for Guard and Reserve service members and families.
Self-Help Resources
A variety of patient tools; including fact sheets, videos, books and web sites, to help support and direct treatment for PTSD.
Frequently Asked Questions About PTSD
Continually updated to provide quick answers to the most commonly asked questions.