Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that some people develop after experiencing a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. It’s normal for people who go through traumatic events to experience difficulty coping, but with time most people recover. If people have symptoms that persist, get worse, and last for a long time they may be diagnosed with PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD can include:
- Intrusive memories – Unwanted memories of the traumatic event.
- Avoidance – Avoiding people, places or things associated with the event.
- Arousal symptoms – Things like always being on guard, being easily startled or frightens, trouble sleeping, irritability or outbursts.
- Mood Changes – Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event, negative thoughts, feeling guilty, loss of interest in enjoyable activities.
How STEPS Can Help:
The STEPS trial has 2 main treatments that are proven effective at helping those suffering from posttraumatic stress. As part of participating in STEPS you will be randomized to receive either clinically proven medications (SSRI’s or SNRI’s) or therapy (Written Exposure).