Learning About and Treating PTSD
Are you interested in learning more about PTSD and its treatment? There are probably more people in your practice suffering from PTSD than you realise. The prevalence of PTSD in the community in a 12 month period is 1.3%. For those who have experienced traumatic events the lifetime prevalence is 8% in women, 20% in men and a huge 30% in military and ex-military personnel. So who better to learn about PTSD from than the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA)?
DVA have an online learning program about PTSD specifically designed for practitioners caring for military personnel but with content applicable to PTSD patients without military background. The modules are very well put together and enjoyable to read and do. They explore in detail the three main therapies that have been shown to be useful in PTSD. The course takes 4-6 hours to complete and though it is not officially accredited by the Colleges you do get a certificate at the end to allow you to apply for points yourself.
DVA have a number of interesting resources including other online resources and e-learning programs for clinicians and a range of patient resources including a free smartphone app called PTSD Coach Australia designed to be used in conjunction with face to face treatment for PTSD and containing educational resources as well as range of symptom management tools. Have a look at the app – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
I’m doing the e-learning program now and am actually learning quite a bit about military life and history as well as about treatment of PTSD! And while I do it I’m thinking about how it applies to other populations who have experienced prolonged and recurrent trauma – eg survivors of childhood abuse and neglect and refugees. Much of the same learning applies.
Gerhard is a full professor of Clinical Psychology at Linköping University, Sweden since 2003, an
d affiliated researcher at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Professor Andersson is an internationally recognized researcher in the field of CBT delivered through information and communication technology, as well as the author of the book “The Internet and CBT: a clinical guide”.
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The PTSD Program for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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