The Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Self-Identified South Asians
Treatment of PTSD
Psychotherapy
current most effective treatment
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Therapists employing CBT may encourage patients to re-evaluate their thinking patterns and assumptions in order to identify unhelpful pattern, or “distortions” in thoughts, such as overgeneralizing bad outcomes, negative thinking that prevent positive thinking, and always expecting catastrophic outcomes, to more balanced and effective thinking patterns. These are intended to help the person rethink their understanding of traumatic experiences, as well as their understanding of themselves and their ability to cope.
Exposure Therapy
The goal of exposure therapy is to help reduce a person's fear and anxiety, with the ultimate goal of eliminating avoidance behavior and increasing quality of life. This is done by actively confronting the things that a person fears. By confronting feared situations, thoughts, and emotions, a person can learn that anxiety and fear will lessen on its own. Like all therapy, this must be done with a certified and experienced clinician otherwise the repercussions can be incredibly harmful.
Cognitive Restructuring Therapy (CRT)
Short term therapy that focuses on restructuring memories of the trauma and forming positive associations. Replacing harmful thoughts with realistic, helpful ones after identifying irrational behavior, thoughts, and feelings.
Eye movement desensitization & reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing of the traumatic memory network, so that information processing is enhanced, with new associations forged between the traumatic memory and more adaptive memories or information. These new associations are thought to result in complete information processing, new learning, elimination of emotional distress, and development of cognitive insights.
Pharmacological Approaches
usually aim to reduce specific symptoms