Public - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Author: Jeffrey P. Staab, MD, MS
Editorial changes - 2008-04-23
Author information and module status



		Prevention
		Screening
		Diagnosis
		Consultation for Diagnosis
		Hospitalization
		Non-drug Therapy
		Drug Therapy
		Patient Education
		Consultation for Management
		Follow-up

	Tables
	References
	Glossary
	What's New
	Patient Information
	Additional Resources
	Tools

Screening
Screen for PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and family violence in patients with known exposures to traumatic stress. Screen patients with other psychiatric disorders for PTSD. Screen patients with unexplained physical symptoms for PTSD.

Screen for PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and family violence in patients with known exposures to traumatic stress.
To identify patients who currently may have PTSD: Use a patient self-report screening tool or Develop a systematic set of screening questions about PTSD symptoms and verify the diagnosis with a clinical evaluation Screen for depression, anxiety, substance use, and interpersonal conflict. See table Screening Instruments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. See table Types of Traumatic Stressors and Rates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. See table Simplified Diagnostic Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
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Screen patients with other psychiatric disorders for PTSD.
In patients with mood or anxiety disorders, substance abuse, unexplained physical symptoms, and family violence, use a screening questionnaire or ask specific screening questions for PTSD. Use the same screening approach as for patients with known exposures to traumatic stress. See table Screening Instruments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
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Screen patients with unexplained physical symptoms for PTSD.
In patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms, use a screening questionnaire or ask specific screening questions for PTSD. Use the same screening approach as for patients with known exposures to traumatic stress. See table Screening Instruments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
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FAQs

Jeffrey P. Staab, MD, MS, is a consultant for Eli Lilly, Forest Laboratories, received honorarium from Abbott Laboratories, received grants from GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer. Michael Roy, MD, editorial consultant, received honorarium from PFizer.

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