ACUTE STRESS DISORDER AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR TREATMENT (4 CE)

Course overview

This practice guideline has been developed by psychiatrists who are in active clinical practice. It includes a comprehensive literature review to identify all relevant randomized clinical trials, and represents a synthesis of current scientific knowledge and rational clinical practice. The recommendations for any particular clinical decision are based on the best available data and clinical consensus. It has long been recognized that stressful life events may cause emotional and behavioral effects. Research and clinical experience show that those with high levels of symptoms early on, including those with Acute Stress Disorder, are at risk of subsequent PTSD. The prevalence of both disorders is considerably higher among patients who seek general medical care and among persons exposed to sexual assault or mass casualties such as those occurring in wars or natural disasters. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD is also higher in women than in men and is higher in the presence of underlying vulnerabilities such as adverse childhood experiences or comorbid diagnoses. Given the prevalence of Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD and their associated distress and disability, mental health professionals must be prepared to recognize and treat these disorders. Learning Objectives: 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment plans for Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD 2. Gain knowledge of specific clinical features (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) influencing the development of a treatment plan 3. Assess the implications of the disease definition and epidemiology to clinical practice 4. Evaluate the implications of future research needs for Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD