Short course
5.8
Treating anxiety disorders
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© 1998 MJA
| Post-traumatic stress disorder
Features
- Exposure to trauma
- Recurring images of the trauma
- Distress triggered by similar events
- Persistent hyperarousal, avoidance of cues
Psychological treatment in primary care
- Education about the nature of the disorder
- Hyperventilation control (see section 5.9)
- Graded exposure to cues (see section 5.11)
- Treatment of comorbid disorders, especially depression
- Specialist referral to a cognitive behavioural program is
recommended
Drug therapies
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors all reduce the intrusive thoughts, the anxiety and depression, and the sleep problems of this disorder.
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