Psychiatric PTSD Treatment

Post-traumatic stress disorder (commonly known as PTSD) is a complex mental health condition impacting both the brain and body following a traumatic event.

For a formal diagnosis of PTSD, the traumatic experience must involve specific types of events. A person may directly experience the trauma, witness it happening to others, or learn about it affecting someone close to them.

These qualifying traumatic events include:

• Exposure to actual or threatened death
• Exposure to actual or threatened serious injury
• Exposure to actual or threatened sexual violence

While some individuals endure other types of profoundly stressful events, they may still develop PTSD-like symptoms. In such cases, trauma counselors or trauma psychiatrists might diagnose adjustment disorder or alternative related conditions.

Typically, after such events, people experience a normal fight-or-flight response temporarily. This may involve nightmares, heightened fear, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, intrusive thoughts, and avoiding triggers linked to the trauma. For example, someone involved in a car accident might avoid driving through the accident site or experience frequent mental replay of the event.

Usually, these symptoms diminish within a month as the nervous system stabilizes and baseline functioning returns. However, in PTSD, these symptoms are more intense, last longer, and significantly impair daily life and functioning.

The World Health Organization also recognizes a related condition called complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), characterized by prolonged or repeated trauma rather than a single event. C-PTSD can result from situations like childhood abuse, domestic violence, captivity, living in war zones, or severe bullying. C-PTSD presents with symptoms similar to PTSD but with added challenges in emotional regulation and relationships.

If you have experienced trauma and are struggling to cope, seeking professional help is crucial.

Signs that you may benefit from psychiatric care or trauma counseling include:

• Recurrent flashbacks or distressing dreams
• Persistent hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge
• Avoidance of memories, places, or activities linked to trauma
• Difficulty managing anger or emotions
• Physical sensations reminiscent of the trauma
• Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares
• Feelings of guilt or self-blame
• Emotional numbness or detachment from others
• Increased sensitivity to triggers

At Fine Tune Psychiatry, we offer both in-person and online treatment for PTSD. Contact us today to begin your assessment and tailored treatment plan.

Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms generally fall into three main categories. For a diagnosis, symptoms must persist for over a month and include signs from each category:

Intrusion Symptoms

• Repeated, unwanted distressing memories of the trauma
• Nightmares related to the traumatic event
• Flashbacks, where the person feels the trauma is happening again
• Strong emotional or physical reactions to trauma reminders

Avoidance and Negative Mood Symptoms

• Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations about the trauma
• Avoiding places, people, or activities associated with the event
• Difficulty remembering key details of the trauma
• Negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world
• Self-blame or blaming others
• Persistent feelings of fear, guilt, shame, or anger
• Loss of interest in important activities
• Feeling detached or estranged from others
• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions

Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms

• Irritability and angry outbursts
• Reckless or self-harming behaviors
• Hypervigilance or being easily startled
• Trouble concentrating
• Sleep disturbances

Additional Common Experiences

• Depersonalization (feeling detached from self or reality)
• Derealization (feeling surroundings are unreal or distorted)

Complex PTSD involves similar symptoms but with more severe issues in emotional regulation, self-identity, and relationship difficulties.

What Causes PTSD? Who is at Risk?

In the U.S., PTSD affects about 6.1% to 8.3% of adults at some point in their lives. Symptoms typically appear within three months of the trauma but can also be delayed. About half of those diagnosed recover within three months, while others may experience symptoms for years.

PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of background, but is more common among survivors of sexual violence, combat veterans, and individuals exposed to genocide or political violence.

Risk factors include:

• Prior mental health conditions
• Childhood trauma or adversity
• Lack of social support
• Severity and nature of trauma
• Trauma caused by a caregiver
• Inability to escape trauma
• Genetic predispositions
• Gender (higher rates in women)
• History of brain injury

How Does Fine Tune Psychiatry Provide PTSD Treatments?

At Fine Tune Psychiatry, we offer personalized, evidence-based PTSD treatments. Since PTSD symptoms vary widely, our providers develop individualized care plans that may include therapy, medication, or both.

Initial Visit for PTSD and Trauma

During your first visit with a board certified psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, your history, symptoms, strengths, and goals will be assessed. A diagnosis may be provided early on, but sometimes multiple visits are necessary for a thorough evaluation.

Prescribing providers may suggest medications alongside trauma counseling, and can make appropriate referrals to specialized trauma informed therapists. Importantly, treatment does not require you to share traumatic details you’re uncomfortable discussing.

Therapy Options for PTSD

Our clinicians can incorporate psychotherapy into their sessions as needed. This includes using Supportive therapy, and more trauma specific modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy.

If a patient requires more intensive or focused therapy for PTSD, our psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will make recommendations for psychologists and therapists in your area, and will collaborate with them to provide coordinated care. The following are types of therapeutic treatments that can used to treat PTSD:

• Psychotherapy: Helps patients understand trauma’s impact and develop coping skills, leading to improved emotional regulation, relationships, and quality of life.
• EMDR: Uses guided eye movements or sounds during trauma recall to help reprocess traumatic memories and reduce symptoms.
• CBT: Addresses negative thought patterns and behaviors related to trauma through psychoeducation, coping strategies, and gradual exposure.
• Exposure Therapy: Gradually reduces fear and avoidance by helping patients confront trauma-related memories and triggers.

Medication Management for PTSD

Our psychiatrists and nurse practitioners provide medication management tailored to trauma symptoms. Combining medication with therapy generally offers the best outcomes. Possible medications include:

• SRIs and SNRIs for depression and anxiety
• Medications to calm the nervous system
• Sleep aids
• Mood stabilizers and anti-irritability medications

If you’re seeking expert PTSD treatments, Fine Tune Psychiatry provides compassionate care with experienced providers who understand trauma’s complexities and work with you toward healing.