Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A free and informative guide to understanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), written specifically for clients.

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Free Trauma Guide

A free psychoeducational guide. Typically containing elements of skills development.

Overview

Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are comprehensive sources of information for your clients. Concepts are explained in an easily digestible way, with plenty of case examples and accessible diagrams. Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is designed to help clients with PTSD and Complex PTSD to understand more about their condition.

Why Use This Resource?

This free guide aims to help clients learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It explains what PTSD is, what the common symptoms are, and effective ways to address it, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

  • Identify symptoms of PTSD and the factors that contribute to it.
  • Understand what keeps PTSD going.
  • Explore effective treatments for PTSD.
  • Gain insights into how people experience PTSD and how they overcome it.

Key Benefits

Comprehensive

Explores what post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is and what maintains it.

Relatable

Contains detailed examples and relatable case studies.

Supportive

Written in a friendly and accessible manner.

Hopeful

Outlines effective treatment options.

Who is this for?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Ideal for clients who might be experiencing symptoms of PTSD.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Assess

Identify clients who may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

02

Share

Provide the guide to clients who could benefit from it.

03

Educate

Use the content to inform clients about PTSD and help normalize their experiences.

04

Reflect

Discuss the client’s personal experience with PTSD.

05

Intervene

Plan treatment with the client or direct them to other sources of help and support.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

Experiencing trauma is a common part of many individuals' lives. While the majority of people gradually recover from traumatic events without the need for professional intervention, a significant proportion develop longer-lasting psychological difficulties. When the effects of trauma persist and cause substantial distress or impairment, clients may meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Epidemiological data suggest that approximately 3-5% of the population will experience PTSD in any given year. Encouragingly, a range of evidence-based psychological therapies are available for PTSD, offering effective pathways to recovery for many individuals.

What's inside

  • Introduction to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Guidance for introducing and using the resource with clients.
  • Key references for learning more about PTSD.
Get access to this resource

FAQs

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, involving persistent symptoms such as intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in mood and thinking, and heightened arousal.
Important maintenance factors include distressing unprocessed memories, avoidance, and safety behaviors.
CBT is an effective therapy that focuses on addressing maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that maintain PTSD.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

By using this resource in their clinical practice, therapists can:

  • Identify individuals who may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Help clients better understand their difficulties and what maintains them.
  • Explore treatment options.
  • Encourage hope and optimism about change.

Clinicians Who Use This Resource Also Use

References And Further Reading

  • Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 617-627.
  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub.
  • Herman, J. L. (1992). Complex PTSD: A syndrome in survivors of prolonged and repeated trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5(3), 377-391.
  • Brewin, C. R., Cloitre, M., Hyland, P., Shevlin, M., Maercker, A., Bryant, R. A., … & Somasundaram, D. (2017). A review of current evidence regarding the ICD-11 proposals for diagnosing PTSD and complex PTSD. Clinical Psychology Review, 58, 1-15.
  • Gilbertson, M. W., Shenton, M. E., Ciszewski, A., Kasai, K., Lasko, N. B., Orr, S. P., & Pitman, R. K. (2002). Smaller hippocampal volume predicts pathologic vulnerability to psychological trauma. Nature Neuroscience, 5(11), 1242-1247.
  • Brewin, C. R., Gregory, J. D., Lipton, M., & Burgess, N. (2010). Intrusive images in psychological disorders: characteristics, neural mechanisms, and treatment implications. Psychological Review, 117(1), 210.
  • Whalley, M. G., Kroes, M. C., Huntley, Z., Rugg, M. D., Davis, S. W., & Brewin, C. R. (2013). An fMRI investigation of posttraumatic flashbacks. Brain and Cognition, 81(1), 151-159.
  • Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38(4), 319-345.
  • Grey, N., Young, K., & Holmes, E. (2002). Cognitive restructuring within reliving: A treatment for peritraumatic emotional “hotspots” in posttraumatic stress disorder. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 30(1), 37-56.
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder. Retrieved from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116/resources/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-pdf-66141601777861
  • Watkins, L. E., Sprang, K. R., & Rothbaum, B. (2018). Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 12, 258.
  • Robjant, K., & Fazel, M. (2010). The emerging evidence for narrative exposure therapy: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(8), 1030-1039.
  • Grey, Nick (@nickdgrey) (2019, June 10). “And by allowing yourself to sit with the memory aspects of it may become clearer, new pieces of the puzzle may emerge, and new perspectives may be gained – leading to further cognitive and emotional change” [Post] Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/nickdgrey/status/1137993861647732737
  • Zalta, A. K., Gillihan, S. J., Fisher, A. J., Mintz, J., McLean, C. P., Yehuda, R., & Foa, E. B. (2014). Change in negative cognitions associated with PTSD predicts symptom reduction in prolonged exposure. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(1), 171.
  • Kleim, B., Grey, N., Wild, J., Nussbeck, F. W., Stott, R., Hackmann, A., … & Ehlers, A. (2013). Cognitive change predicts symptom reduction with cognitive therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81(3), 383.
  • Gallagher, M. W., & Resick, P. A. (2012). Mechanisms of change in cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Preliminary evidence for the differential effects of hopelessness and habituation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(6), 750-755.

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