Post traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a serious mental disorder that plagues a lot of people. Nightmares, negative thoughts, flashbacks of the trauma, anger, and sadness are a few of the turmoil that these individuals undergo.
For decades, experts have worked tirelessly to explore the best treatment for PTSD. And now finally, it looks like the long, excruciating wait is over.
Researches show that psychotherapy, administered alone or in conjunction with medication, can result in long term benefit for people living with PTSD. This is in stark contrast to the debate and disbelief that surrounded psychotherapy.
However, several researches support these findings, and now it has been used in practice with very successful results.
Benefits of combining psychotherapy with medication for PTSD
- The rates of relapsing are reduced.
- It reduces the symptoms of PTSD, most notably nightmares and flashbacks.
- Overall physical health is improved.
- Social interaction improves greatly.
- It increases participation in psychotherapy sessions.
- Short-term recovery symptoms improve to a large degree.
- The chances of long-term recovery are also improved.
Why does the combined treatment work better than others?
Medications used in the treatment of PTSD are typically antidepressants. These work on the frontal cortex, which has a direct effect on depression and anxiety. They can also improve the learning capacity, which correlates to the results of psychotherapy.
On the other hand, psychotherapy improves the patient’s participation in the sessions more effectively.
Conclusion
As with all types of treatment, the results can be different for different patients with PTSD. However, this treatment of involving psychotherapy, both in isolation or with medications, has been proven to be the best treatment of PTSD. The results range from short-term to long-term, which is definitely a huge benefit.
PTSD is a debilitating disorder, and this advancement in medicine is a welcome relief for people who have been struggling with it.
