VA/DOD CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR 

THE MANAGEMENT OF POSTTRAUMATIC 

STRESS DISORDER AND ACUTE STRESS 

DISORDER 

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of Defense

Clinician Summary

QUALIFYING STATEMENTS 

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense guidelines are based upon the best 

information available at the time of publication. They are designed to provide information and assist 

decision making. They are not intended to define a standard of care and should not be construed as one.

Neither should they be interpreted as prescribing an exclusive course of management. 

The Clinical Practice Guideline is based on a systematic review of both clinical and epidemiological 

evidence. Developed by a panel of multidisciplinary experts, it provides a clear explanation of the logical 

relationships between various care options and health outcomes while rating both the quality of the 

evidence and the strength of the recommendation. 

Variations in practice will inevitably and appropriately occur when clinicians take into account the needs of 

individual patients, available resources, and limitations unique to an institution or type of practice. Every 

healthcare professional making use of these guidelines is responsible for evaluating the appropriateness of 

applying them in the setting of any particular clinical situation.

These guidelines are not intended to represent TRICARE policy. Further, inclusion of recommendations for 

specific testing and/or therapeutic interventions within these guidelines does not guarantee coverage of 

civilian sector care. Additional information on current TRICARE benefits may be found at www.tricare.mil 

or by contacting your regional TRICARE Managed Care Support Contractor.

Version 3.0 – 2017
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Table of Contents

I. Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 3

II. How to Use the Clinical Practice Guideline ....................................................................................... 3

III. Recommendations........................................................................................................................... 5

A. Grading Recommendations.................................................................................................................8

IV. Algorithm ...................................................................................................................................... 10

Module A: Acute Stress Reaction/Disorder..............................................................................................11

Module B: Assessment and Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder................................................13

Module C: Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.....................................................................15

V. Scope of the Clinical Practice Guideline.......................................................................................... 16

VI. Guideline Work Group ................................................................................................................... 16

VII. Recommendation Discussion ......................................................................................................... 17

A. General Clinical Management...........................................................................................................17

a. Patient-centered Care .............................................................................................................................. 17

b. Shared Decision Making........................................................................................................................... 17

c. Collaborative Care .................................................................................................................................... 18

B. Diagnosis and Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder..........................................................18

C. Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder...................................................................................19

a. Selective Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder............................................................................ 19

b. Indicated Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder......... 19

D. Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder....................................................................................19

a. Treatment Selection ................................................................................................................................. 19

b. Psychotherapy .......................................................................................................................................... 20

c. Pharmacotherapy..................................................................................................................................... 21

d. Augmentation Therapy ............................................................................................................................ 24

e. Prazosin..................................................................................................................................................... 24

f. Combination Therapy ............................................................................................................................... 25

g. Non-pharmacologic Biological Treatments............................................................................................. 25

h. Complementary and Integrative Treatments.......................................................................................... 25

i. Technology-based Treatment Modalities................................................................................................ 26

E. Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Co-occurring Conditions...................................26

a. Background on Co-occurring Conditions with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder........................................ 26

Appendix A: Pharmacotherapy Dosing Table ......................................................................................... 29

References ............................................................................................................................................ 30
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I. Introduction

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) Evidence-Based Practice 

Work Group (EBPWG) was established and first chartered in 2004, with a mission to advise the “...Health 

Executive Council on the use of clinical and epidemiological evidence to improve the health of the 

population across the Veterans Health Administration and Military Health System,” by facilitating the 

development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the VA and DoD populations.[1] This CPG is intended 

to provide healthcare providers with a framework by which to evaluate, treat, and manage the individual 

needs and preferences of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder

(ASD), thereby leading to improved clinical outcomes.

In 2010, the VA and DoD published a CPG for the Management of Post-Traumatic Stress and Acute Stress 

Reaction (2010 PTSD CPG), which was based on evidence reviewed through March 2009. Since the release 

of that guideline, a growing body of research has expanded the general knowledge and understanding of 

PTSD and other stress related disorders, such as ASD and other acute reactions to trauma (sometimes 

referred to as acute stress reactions [ASR]). Improved recognition of the complex nature of ASR, ASD, and 

PTSD has led to the adoption of new or refined strategies to manage and treat patients with these 

conditions.

Consequently, a recommendation to update the 2010 PTSD CPG was initiated in 2015. The updated CPG 

includes objective, evidence-based information on the management of PTSD and related conditions. It is 

intended to assist healthcare providers in all aspects of patient care, including, but not limited to, 

diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The system-wide goal of developing evidence-based guidelines is to 

improve the patient’s health and well-being by guiding health providers who are taking care of patients 

with PTSD along the management pathways that are supported by evidence. The expected outcome of 

successful implementation of this guideline is to:

• Enhance assessment of the patient’s condition and determine the best treatment method in 

collaboration with the patient and, when possible and desired, the patient’s family and 

caregivers

• Optimize the patient’s health outcomes and improve quality of life 

• Minimize preventable complications and morbidity

• Emphasize the use of patient-centered care

II. How to Use the Clinical Practice Guideline

The VA/DoD PTSD CPG can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used by general clinicians or specialists to 

study and consider the latest information on management of PTSD and how and whether to incorporate 

that information or recommendations into their practice. The CPG covers diagnosis and assessment, 

prevention of PTSD, treatment of ASD, treatment of PTSD, as well as treatment of PTSD in the presence of 

co-occurring conditions. Patients can examine the guideline to educate themselves and better understand 

their treatment options and expectations. A healthcare system can use the CPG to assure that its clinicians 

and patients have the resources available to compassionately and effectively offer treatment in a timely, 
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culturally sensitive manner. The guideline can also be used to suggest specific education for identified 

gaps. 

The guideline is not intended as a standard of care and should not be used as such. Standards of care are 

determined on the basis of all clinical data available for an individual case and are subject to change as 

scientific knowledge and technology advances and patterns evolve. Today there is variation among state 

regulations, and the guideline does not cover the variety of ever-changing state regulations that may be 

pertinent. The ultimate judgement regarding a particular clinical procedure or treatment course must be 

made by the individual clinician, in light of the patient’s clinical presentation, patient preferences, and 

the available diagnostic and treatment options. As noted previously, the guideline can assist care 

providers, but the use of a CPG must always be considered as a recommendation, within the context of 

a provider’s clinical judgment and patient values and preferences, in the care for an individual patient.
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III. Recommendations

# Recommendation Strength Category

A. General Clinical Management

1 We recommend engaging patients in shared decision making (SDM), 

which includes educating patients about effective treatment options.

Strong For Not Reviewed, 

Amended

2 For patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who are treated 

in primary care, we suggest collaborative care interventions that 

facilitate active engagement in evidence-based treatments.

Weak For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

B. Diagnosis and Assessment of PTSD

3 We suggest periodic screening for PTSD using validated measures such 

as the Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD) or the PTSD Checklist (PCL).

Weak For Not Reviewed, 

Amended

4 For patients with suspected PTSD, we recommend an appropriate 

diagnostic evaluation that includes determination of DSM criteria, acute 

risk of harm to self or others, functional status, medical history, past 

treatment history, and relevant family history. A structured diagnostic 

interview may be considered.

Strong For Not Reviewed, 

Amended

5 For patients with a diagnosis of PTSD, we suggest using a quantitative 

self-report measure of PTSD severity, such as the PTSD Checklist for 

DSM-5 (PCL-5), in the initial treatment planning and to monitor 

treatment progress.

Weak For Not Reviewed, 

Amended

C. Prevention of PTSD

a. Selective Prevention of PTSD

6 For the selective prevention of PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to 

recommend the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy or 

pharmacotherapy in the immediate post-trauma period.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

b. Indicated Prevention of PTSD and Treatment of ASD

7 For the indicated prevention of PTSD in patients with acute stress 

disorder (ASD), we recommend an individual trauma-focused 

psychotherapy that includes a primary component of exposure and/or 

cognitive restructuring.

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

8 For the indicated prevention of PTSD in patients with ASD, there is 

insufficient evidence to recommend the use of pharmacotherapy.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

D. Treatment of PTSD

a. Treatment Selection

9 We recommend individual, manualized trauma-focused psychotherapy 

(see Recommendation 11) over other pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions for the primary treatment of PTSD.

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-added

10 When individual trauma-focused psychotherapy is not readily available 

or not preferred, we recommend pharmacotherapy (see 

Recommendation 17) or individual non-trauma-focused psychotherapy 

(see Recommendation 12). With respect to pharmacotherapy and nontrauma-focused psychotherapy, there is insufficient evidence to 

recommend one over the other.

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-added
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# Recommendation Strength Category

b. Psychotherapy

11 For patients with PTSD, we recommend individual, manualized traumafocused psychotherapies that have a primary component of exposure 

and/or cognitive restructuring to include Prolonged Exposure (PE), 

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and 

Reprocessing (EMDR), specific cognitive behavioral therapies for PTSD, 

Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), 

and written narrative exposure.

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

12 We suggest the following individual, manualized non-trauma-focused 

therapies for patients diagnosed with PTSD: Stress Inoculation Training 

(SIT), Present-Centered Therapy (PCT), and Interpersonal Psychotherapy 

(IPT).

Weak For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

13 There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against 

psychotherapies that are not specified in other recommendations, such 

as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Skills Training in Affect and 

Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR), Acceptance and Commitment 

Therapy (ACT), Seeking Safety, and supportive counseling.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

14 There is insufficient evidence to recommend using individual 

components of manualized psychotherapy protocols over or in addition 

to the full therapy protocol.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-added

15 We suggest manualized group therapy over no treatment. There is 

insufficient evidence to recommend using one type of group therapy 

over any other.

Weak For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

16 There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against traumafocused or non-trauma-focused couples therapy for the primary 

treatment of PTSD.

N/A Reviewed, 

Amended

c. Pharmacotherapy

17 We recommend sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, or venlafaxine as 

monotherapy for PTSD for patients diagnosed with PTSD who choose not 

to engage in or are unable to access trauma-focused psychotherapy.

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

18 We suggest nefazodone, imipramine, or phenelzine as monotherapy for 

the treatment of PTSD if recommended pharmacotherapy (see 

Recommendation 17), trauma-focused psychotherapy (see 

Recommendation 11), or non-trauma-focused psychotherapy (see 

Recommendation 12) are ineffective, unavailable, or not in accordance 

with patient preference and tolerance. (NOTE: Nefazodone and 

phenelzine have potentially serious toxicities and should be managed 

carefully.)

Weak For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

19 We suggest against treatment of PTSD with quetiapine, olanzapine, and 

other atypical antipsychotics (except for risperidone, which is a Strong 

Against, see Recommendation 20), citalopram, amitriptyline, 

lamotrigine, or topiramate as monotherapy due to the lack of strong 

evidence for their efficacy and/or known adverse effect profiles and 

associated risks.

Weak Against Reviewed, 

New-replaced

20 We recommend against treating PTSD with divalproex, tiagabine, 

guanfacine, risperidone, benzodiazepines, ketamine, hydrocortisone, or 

D-cycloserine, as monotherapy due to the lack of strong evidence for 

their efficacy and/or known adverse effect profiles and associated risks.

Strong Against Reviewed, 

New-replaced

21 We recommend against treating PTSD with cannabis or cannabis 

derivatives due to the lack of evidence for their efficacy, known adverse 

effects, and associated risks. 

Strong Against Reviewed, 

New-added
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# Recommendation Strength Category

22 There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against 

monotherapy or augmentation therapy for the treatment of PTSD with 

eszopiclone, escitalopram, bupropion, desipramine, doxepin, D-serine, 

duloxetine, desvenlafaxine, fluvoxamine, levomilnacipran, mirtazapine, 

nortriptyline, trazodone, vilazodone, vortioxetine, buspirone, 

hydroxyzine, cyproheptadine, zaleplon, and zolpidem.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

d. Augmentation Therapy

23 We suggest against the use of topiramate, baclofen, or pregabalin as 

augmentation treatment of PTSD due to insufficient data and/or known 

adverse effect profiles and associated risks.

Weak Against Reviewed, 

New-replaced

24 We suggest against combining exposure therapy with D-cycloserine in 

the treatment of PTSD outside of the research setting.

Weak Against Reviewed, 

New-added

25 We recommend against using atypical antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, 

and divalproex as augmentation therapy for the treatment of PTSD due 

to low quality evidence or the absence of studies and their association 

with known adverse effects.

Strong Against Reviewed, 

New-replaced

26 There is insufficient evidence to recommend the combination of 

exposure therapy with hydrocortisone outside of the research setting.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-added

27 There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of 

mirtazapine in combination with sertraline for the treatment of PTSD.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

e. Prazosin

28a For global symptoms of PTSD, we suggest against the use of prazosin as 

mono- or augmentation therapy.

Weak Against Reviewed, 

New-replaced

28b For nightmares associated with PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to 

recommend for or against the use of prazosin as mono- or 

augmentation therapy.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

f. Combination Therapy

29 In partial- or non-responders to psychotherapy, there is insufficient 

evidence to recommend for or against augmentation with 

pharmacotherapy. 

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

30 In partial- or non-responders to pharmacotherapy, there is insufficient 

evidence to recommend for or against augmentation with 

psychotherapy.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

31 There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against starting 

patients with PTSD on combination pharmacotherapy and 

psychotherapy.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-added

g. Non-pharmacologic Biological Treatments

32 There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the following 

somatic therapies: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), 

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), 

stellate ganglion block (SGB), or vagal nerve stimulation (VNS).

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

h. Complementary and Integrative Treatments

33 There is insufficient evidence to recommend acupuncture as a primary 

treatment for PTSD.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced

34 There is insufficient evidence to recommend any complementary and 

integrative health (CIH) practice, such as meditation (including 

mindfulness), yoga, and mantram meditation, as a primary treatment for 

PTSD.

N/A Reviewed, 

New-replaced
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# Recommendation Strength Category

i. Technology-based Treatment Modalities 

35 We suggest internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) with 

feedback provided by a qualified facilitator as an alternative to no 

treatment.

Weak For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

36 We recommend using trauma-focused psychotherapies that have 

demonstrated efficacy using secure video teleconferencing (VTC) 

modality when PTSD treatment is delivered via VTC.

Strong For Reviewed, 

Amended

E. Treatment of PTSD with Co-occurring Conditions

37 We recommend that the presence of co-occurring disorder(s) not 

prevent patients from receiving other VA/DoD guideline-recommended 

treatments for PTSD.

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-added

38 We recommend VA/DoD guideline-recommended treatments for PTSD 

in the presence of co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD).

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

39 We recommend an independent assessment of co-occurring sleep 

disturbances in patients with PTSD, particularly when sleep problems 

pre-date PTSD onset or remain following successful completion of a 

course of treatment.

Strong For Reviewed, 

New-replaced

40 We recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) for 

insomnia in patients with PTSD unless an underlying medical or 

environmental etiology is identified or severe sleep deprivation 

warrants the immediate use of medication to prevent harm.

Strong For Reviewed, 

Amended

A. Grading Recommendations

The Champions and Work Group used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and 

Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of the evidence base and assign a grade for the strength 

for each recommendation. The GRADE system uses the following four domains to assess the strength of 

each recommendation: [2] 

• Balance of desirable and undesirable outcomes 

• Confidence in the quality of the evidence 

• Patient or provider values and preferences

• Other implications, as appropriate, e.g.,:

 Resource use

 Equity

 Acceptability

 Feasibility

 Subgroup considerations

Using this system, the Champions and Work Group determined the relative strength of each 

recommendation (Strong or Weak). A strong recommendation indicates that the Work Group is highly 

confident about the balance between desirable and undesirable outcomes. If the Work Group is less 

confident of the balance between desirable and undesirable outcomes, they give a weak recommendation. 
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They also determined the direction of each recommendation (For or Against). A recommendation for a 

therapy or preventive measure indicates that the desirable consequences outweigh the undesirable 

consequences. A recommendation against a therapy or preventive measure indicates that the undesirable 

consequences outweigh the desirable consequences.

Occasionally, instances may occur when the Work Group feels there is insufficient evidence to make a 

recommendation for or against a particular therapy or preventive measure. This can occur when there is 

an absence of studies on a particular topic that met evidence review inclusion criteria, studies included in 

the evidence review report conflicting results, or studies included in the evidence review report

inconclusive results regarding the desirable and undesirable outcomes. 

Using these elements, the grade of each recommendation is presented as part of a continuum:

• Strong for (or “We recommend offering this option ...”)

• Weak for (or “We suggest offering this option ...”)

• No recommendation for or against (or “There is insufficient evidence...”)

• Weak against (or “We suggest not offering this option ...”)

• Strong against (or “We recommend against offering this option ...”)
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IV. Algorithm

This CPG includes an algorithm that is designed to facilitate understanding of the clinical pathway and 

decision making process used in management of PTSD. The use of the algorithm format as a way to 

represent patient management was chosen based on the understanding that such a format may promote 

more efficient diagnostic and therapeutic decision making and has the potential to change patterns of 

resource use. Recognizing that some clinical care processes are non-linear, the algorithm format attempts 

to help the provider to follow a more simplified approach whenever possible in assessing the critical 

information needed at the major decision points in the clinical process, and includes:

• An ordered sequence of steps of care

• Recommended observations and examinations

• Decisions to be considered

• Actions to be taken

A clinical algorithm diagrams a guideline into a step-by-step decision tree. Standardized symbols are used 

to display each step in the algorithm, and arrows connect the numbered boxes indicating the order in 

which the steps should be followed.[3] 
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Module A: Acute Stress Reaction/Disorder 
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Module B: Assessment and Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
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Module C: Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
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V. Scope of the Clinical Practice Guideline

The VA/DoD PTSD CPG is designed to assist providers in managing or co-managing patients with PTSD and 

related conditions (e.g., ASD). Moreover, the patient population of interest for the CPG is adults who are 

eligible for care in the VA and DoD healthcare delivery systems. It includes Veterans as well as deployed 

and non-deployed active duty Service Members, Guard, and Reserve. The CPG does not provide 

recommendations for the management of PTSD in children or adolescents. Regardless of setting, any 

patient in the healthcare system should ideally have access to the interventions that are recommended in 

this guideline after taking into consideration the patient’s specific circumstances.

While these guidelines are broadly recommended, their implementation is intended to be patientcentered. Thus, treatment and care should take into account a patient’s needs and preferences. Good 

communication between healthcare professionals and the patient is essential and should be supported by 

evidence-based information tailored to the patient’s needs. Use of an empathetic and non-judgmental 

approach facilitates discussions sensitive to gender, culture, ethnic, and other differences. The information 

that patients are given about treatment and care should be culturally appropriate and available to people 

with limited literacy skills. It should also be accessible to people with additional needs such as physical, 

sensory, or learning disabilities. Family involvement should be considered, if appropriate.

VI. Guideline Work Group

Guideline Work Group

Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Defense

Nancy C. Bernardy, PhD (Champion) Charles W. Hoge, MD (Champion)

Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD (Champion) David S. Riggs, PhD (Champion)

Paula P. Schnurr, PhD (Champion) Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP

Kathleen M. Chard, PhD Maj Joel T. Foster, PhD

Lori Davis, MD COL Shawn F. Kane, MD, FAAFP, FACSM

Bradford Felker, MD Kate McGraw, PhD

Jessica L. Hamblen, PhD CDR Jeffrey Millegan, MD, MPH, FAPA

Matthew Jeffreys, MD Elaine P. Stuffel, BSN, MHA, RN

Sonya Norman, PhD COL Lisa A. Teegarden, PsyD

Mary Jo Pugh, RN, PhD, FACMPH CDR Meena Vythilingam, MD

Sheila A.M. Rauch, PhD, ABPP COL Wendi M. Waits, MD

Todd P. Semla, MS, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, AGSF Jonathan Wolf, MD

Office of Quality, Safety and Value

Veterans Health Administration

Office of Evidence Based Practice

U.S. Army Medical Command

Eric Rodgers, PhD, FNP, BC

James Sall, PhD, FNP-BC

Rene Sutton, BS, HCA 

Corinne K. B. Devlin, MSN, RN, FNP-BC

Elaine P. Stuffel, BSN, MHA, RN
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Guideline Work Group

Lewin Group ECRI Institute

Clifford Goodman, PhD

Christine Jones, MS, MPH, PMP

Erin Gardner, BS

Anjali Jain, MD

James Reston, MPH, PhD

Amy Tsou, MD, MSc

Rebecca Rishar, MLIS

Jeff Oristaglio, PhD

Savvas Pavlides, PhD

Sigma Health Consulting, LLC DutyFirst Consulting

Frances Murphy, MD, MPH Anita Ramanathan, BA

Megan McGovern, BA

VII. Recommendation Discussion

A. General Clinical Management

a. Patient-centered Care

VA/DoD CPGs encourage clinicians to use a patient-centered care approach that is individualized based on 

patient needs, treatment goals, prior treatment experience, and preferences. Whenever possible, all 

patients in the healthcare system should be offered access to evidence-based interventions. When 

properly executed, patient-centered care may decrease patient anxiety, increase trust in clinicians, and 

improve knowledge and treatment adherence.[4,5] As part of the patient-centered care approach, 

clinicians should review the outcomes of previous self-change efforts, past treatment experiences, and 

discuss these outcomes (including reasons for treatment dropout) with the patient. Clinicians should 

explain treatment options to patients including the benefits of accepting a referral to a mental health 

specialist, an expert in evidence-based PTSD treatments. The clinician should discuss any concerns the 

patient has and explore any identified treatment barriers. Often, clinicians have concerns that a patient 

may not be able to tolerate a trauma-focused treatment. It is important to note that there is no data to 

suggest that comorbidities or other factors indicate that a patient will not benefit from these treatments.

Nor is there data to suggest that clinicians can accurately predict which patients will or will not benefit 

from one of these treatments. It is therefore important that clinicians inform all patients with PTSD about 

the availability of trauma-focused psychotherapy.

b. Shared Decision Making

The shared decision making (SDM) process has the goal of considering patient preference in treatment 

decisions to improve patient-centered care, decision quality, and treatment outcomes. In SDM, the patient 

and provider together review treatment options and compare the benefits, harms, and risks of each with 

the goal of selecting the option that best meets the patient’s needs.

Much of the SDM research has focused on evaluating decision aids, tools that educate patients about 

treatment options as a way to facilitate SDM. There were two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) 

examining decision aids for PTSD treatment reviewed for this guideline.[6,7] Consistent with the larger 

literature on decision aids, both trials suggested that relative to usual care, patients who received a 
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decision aid were more likely to select and receive evidence-based treatment. One trial also found that 

receipt of the decision aid was linked to improved clinical outcomes, PTSD knowledge, and decisional 

conflict.[6] The Work Group based its strong recommendation on the substantial literature supporting 

SDM in other conditions. The process of SDM maximizes the likelihood that patient preference is taken 

into account and the benefits outweigh any potential harms.

c. Collaborative Care

The collaborative care model is an evidence-based approach to integrating physical and behavioral health 

services that is usually provided within the primary care setting.[8] Many collaborative care models 

generally involve a stepped-care approach to symptom management, using a predetermined treatment 

sequence that starts with simple, low-intensity interventions first. The use of collaborative care 

interventions that employ or facilitate active engagement in evidence-based PTSD treatments in the 

primary care setting appears to increase patient compliance with treatment, improve patient satisfaction, 

and potentially reduce premature termination of treatment when delivered in the primary care setting.[9-

15]

Among the RCTs reviewed, statistically significant findings included increased patient satisfaction using 

technology-enhanced stepped collaborative care compared to usual care,[10,11] reduction in PTSD 

symptoms,[9] PTSD remission across all models of collaborative care studied,[9] and improvements in 

PTSD and depression when telehealth was used to deliver Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in 

collaborative care.[11] Care management alone did not appear to be effective for PTSD, whereas the 

stepped care aspects of the models evaluated did appear to improve outcomes.[9,10,16] Given the 

increased patient compliance with PTSD treatment and improvement in patient satisfaction correlated 

with the use of the collaborative care model studies reviewed, the potential benefits outweigh risk of 

harm.

B. Diagnosis and Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Identification of individuals with PTSD is essential to ensure that they receive appropriate treatment. 

Moreover, screening is often considered a key step in the diagnostic process. Screening for PTSD can be 

performed in primary and specialty care settings, and both VA and DoD mandate screening either in 

context with combat deployments or in primary care settings. One-time screening is not recommended 

because PTSD is a disorder with a fluctuating course for many people. VA recommends annual screening 

for the first five years following separation and then every five years thereafter. DoD recommends routine 

screening throughout deployment cycles. Both VA and DoD have relied most heavily on the Primary Care 

PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD) and PTSD Checklist (PCL) for various screening purposes.[17] No screening measure 

or cutpoint should be the sole basis for diagnosis.

A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of PTSD should include determination of DSM criteria, acute risk of 

harm to self or others, functional status, medical history, past treatment history, and relevant family 

history.[18] Diagnosis can be made on the basis of a clinical interview or a structured diagnostic interview 

such as the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS),[19] Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale 

Interview for DSM-5 (PSSI-I),[20] or Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5).[21] If diagnosis is 
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based on clinical interview in any setting, it can be helpful to administer a self-report questionnaire such as 

the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)[22] along with other routine self-report screening tools, such as the 

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test—Consumption

(AUDIT-C).[23-25] In addition to their utility in screening and diagnosis, brief questionnaires such as the 

PCL-5 can be used to assess symptom severity and monitor treatment response.

C. Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Prevention of PTSD is described using a hierarchy based on the risk of the population evaluated. Universal 

prevention strategies target the general population and are not directed at a specific at-risk group. There 

are currently no recommended strategies for universal prevention of PTSD. Selective prevention targets 

individuals who are at higher than average risk for developing PTSD and includes strategies delivered to 

trauma-exposed individuals who have not yet developed symptoms or meet criteria for ASD or PTSD. 

Indicated prevention includes strategies to prevent PTSD in individuals with symptoms of ASD or meet 

criteria for ASD. 

a. Selective Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions among individuals exposed to trauma (e.g., trauma-focused psychotherapy, Critical Incident 

Stress Debriefing (CISD), the Battlemind debriefing intervention, and a variety of medications) have not 

been consistently effective in preventing PTSD. While trauma-focused psychotherapy shows promise, 

evidence is limited to a single-site study.[26] Neither CISD nor Battlemind debriefing were found to reduce 

PTSD at six months, and CISD was associated with increased incidence and severity of PTSD at 13 months 

follow-up.[27,28] Likewise, medications tested to prevent PTSD (e.g., beta-blockers, benzodiazepines, 

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], antiepileptic drugs) were not found to be consistently 

effective in reducing incidence of PTSD. While hydrocortisone administration during life-threatening 

medical illnesses was associated with significantly less PTSD and depression symptoms at three 

months,[29-32] it is unclear if these findings can be generalized to non-medical traumatic events and there 

is concern about the safety of the high doses administered. In light of these findings there is insufficient 

evidence to recommend trauma-focused psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy in the immediate posttrauma period.

b. Indicated Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Treatment of Acute 

Stress Disorder 

Among the interventions for treatment of ASD, brief trauma-focused psychotherapy has been found to be 

effective in reducing incidence of PTSD at six and 12 months without significant reported adverse 

effects.[27,33] However, treatment with escitalopram was not effective in preventing PTSD in individuals 

who met criteria for ASD.[34,35] In light of this evidence, brief trauma-focused psychotherapy is 

recommended for individuals with ASD.

D. Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

a. Treatment Selection

The Work Group’s recommendation to use individual trauma-focused psychotherapy over 

pharmacotherapy reflects the current state of the research into PTSD treatment. Although there are few 
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Clinician Summary

June 2017 Page 20 of 34

data that reflect direct head-to-head comparisons of trauma-focused psychotherapy and a first-line 

medication for treating PTSD, two recent meta-analyses compared the treatment effects of 

psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies.[36,37] The results of these meta-analyses strongly indicate that 

trauma-focused psychotherapies impart greater change with regard to core PTSD symptoms than 

pharmacotherapies, and that these improvements persist for longer time periods. This appears true even 

when restricting the meta-analyses to studies that utilized “active” treatments such as Present-Centered 

Therapy (PCT) (as opposed to waitlist or treatment as usual) as control groups for psychotherapy studies.

The recommendation to prioritize individual trauma-focused psychotherapy over pharmacotherapy was 

made in consideration of several factors in addition to the apparent differences in the magnitude of 

change associated with the two treatment modalities. First, the risks for negative side effects or negative 

reactions to the treatment are generally greater with pharmacologic treatments than with 

psychotherapies. Second, the positive effects of medication treatment diminish over time and are lost 

when medications are stopped. Third, comments from participants in the focus group and a growing body 

of literature indicate a patient preference for psychotherapy over pharmacotherapy.[6,38,39]

The Work Group recognizes that individual trauma-focused psychotherapies may not be readily available 

in all settings and that not all patients elect to engage in such treatment. When this is the case, the Work 

Group recommends offering treatment using pharmacologic agents or identified individual, manualized 

psychotherapies that are not trauma-focused (i.e., Stress Inoculation Training [SIT], PCT, and Interpersonal 

Psychotherapy [IPT]). Notably, at the time the recommendations were developed, there were no welldesigned, well-controlled studies available to the Work Group that directly compared the treatment 

effects of non-trauma-focused psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. There are no empirical data to 

clearly differentiate pharmacotherapy and non-trauma-focused psychotherapy in cases where traumafocused psychotherapy is unavailable or undesired. However, results of recent meta-analyses suggest that 

pharmacotherapy or individual non-trauma-focused psychotherapy can help reduce PTSD symptoms when 

used as the primary treatment modality.

b. Psychotherapy

For this CPG, trauma-focused psychotherapy is defined as therapy that uses cognitive, emotional, or 

behavioral techniques to facilitate processing a traumatic experience and in which the trauma focus is a 

central component of the therapeutic process.[40] The trauma-focused psychotherapies with the 

strongest evidence from clinical trials are Prolonged Exposure (PE),[41] CPT,[42] and Eye Movement 

Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).[43,44] These treatments have been tested in numerous clinical 

trials, in patients with complex presentations and comorbidities, compared to active control conditions, 

have long-term follow-up, and have been validated by research teams other than the developers. Other 

manualized protocols that have sufficient evidence to recommend use are: specific cognitive behavioral

therapies for PTSD,[45-53] Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP),[54-56] Narrative Exposure Therapy 

(NET),[57,58] and written narrative exposure.[59,60] There are other psychotherapies that meet the 

definition of trauma-focused treatment for which there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend 

for or against their use. 
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Clinician Summary

June 2017 Page 21 of 34

If trauma-focused psychotherapy is not available or if a patient prefers a treatment that does not require 

focusing on trauma, the Work Group suggests individual, manualized psychotherapy that is not traumafocused. SIT, PCT, and IPT are the non-trauma-focused therapies with the most evidence derived from 

clinical trials that have involved direct comparisons with first-line trauma-focused therapies.

A wide variety of manualized protocols, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy,[61] Skills Training In Affect 

and Interpersonal Regulation, [62] Acceptance and Commitment Therapy,[63] Seeking Safety,[64]

hypnosis,[65] brief psychodynamic therapy,[66] and supportive counseling,[48,67,68] have all been used in 

the treatment of PTSD. However, at this time there are insufficient data to argue for or against the use of 

these protocols in treating PTSD. Further research is needed in order to make a recommendation for or 

against their routine use in patients with PTSD.

The Work Group does not recommend adding or removing components from evidence based 

psychotherapy protocols. If modifications to an established protocol (e.g., PE, CPT, EMDR) are clinically 

necessary, the modifications should be empirically and theoretically guided, and with understanding of the 

core components of trauma-focused psychotherapies considered most therapeutically active.

The limited data on the efficacy of group therapy for PTSD indicates that it is not as effective as 

individual therapy. However, some patients with PTSD may prefer manualized group psychotherapy 

over other treatment formats. The research has not shown any particular model of manualized traumafocused or non-trauma-focused group psychotherapy for PTSD to be superior to other active 

interventions, such as PCT, psychoeducation, or treatment as usual. However, group psychotherapy is 

better than no treatment in reducing PTSD symptoms.[69]

In some cases, Veterans may prefer PTSD treatment that includes attention focused on their intimate 

relationships. It is not yet known if a couples-based approach is as effective as individual trauma-focused 

therapy for PTSD. Overall, there is promising but limited evidence in support of trauma-focused couples 

therapy for PTSD.

It must be acknowledged that the recommendation to focus on time-limited approaches may not 

adequately address the problems of severe chronicity or inadequate treatment response that can occur in 

some patients with PTSD, even after successful delivery of one or more courses of trauma-focused 

psychotherapy or other evidence-based treatments. There is no consensus in the literature on how to 

optimally approach the care of these patients. Patient preferences and clinical judgment are important in 

determining the best course of action in such cases.

c. Pharmacotherapy

For those patients who choose not to engage in or are unable to access trauma-focused psychotherapy, 

the use of sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, or venlafaxine as monotherapy is recommended based on the 

results of three systematic reviews.[36,37,70] The benefits of these medications outweigh the potential 

harms. The most frequent adverse effects of SSRIs include sexual dysfunction, increased sweating, 

gastrointestinal upset, and drowsiness/fatigue. 
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Clinician Summary

June 2017 Page 22 of 34

Additionally, although recent research is lacking, older research has demonstrated modest therapeutic 

effects from nefazodone, imipramine, and phenelzine. Clinicians are reminded that both nefazodone and 

phenelzine have potentially serious toxicities and should be managed carefully. 

The Work Group suggests against the use of quetiapine, olanzapine, and other atypical antipsychotics (and 

recommends against risperidone) due to the lack of strong evidence for their efficacy and/or known 

adverse effect profiles and associated risks. Antipsychotics can produce metabolic adverse effects (harms) 

that may exacerbate a patient’s comorbidities or result in new medical problems. These and other adverse 

effects and drug-drug interactions limit the acceptability of atypical antipsychotics by patients and healthcare 

providers.

Additionally, we recommend against treating PTSD with divalproex, tiagabine, guanfacine, risperidone, 

benzodiazepines, ketamine, hydrocortisone, or D-cycloserine, as monotherapy due to the lack of strong 

evidence for their efficacy and/or known adverse effect profiles and associated risks. We recommend 

against the use of risperidone as monotherapy for the primary treatment of PTSD due to very low quality 

of evidence and because the potential harms outweigh the benefits.

Preliminary evidence that natural and synthetic cannabinoids could improve PTSD symptoms, particularly 

nightmares, is offset by the significant side effects including tolerance, dependence, withdrawal syndrome, 

psychosis, cognitive deficits, and respiratory symptoms if smoked. A lack of well-designed RCTs evaluating 

the efficacy of cannabinoids in large samples of patients with PTSD, together with its serious side effects, 

does not support the use of natural or synthetic cannabinoids as a treatment for PTSD. 

Currently, there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against monotherapy or augmentation 

therapy for eszopiclone, escitalopram, bupropion, desipramine, doxepin, D-serine, duloxetine, 

desvenlafaxine, fluvoxamine, levomilnacipran, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, trazodone, vilazodone, 

vortioxetine, buspirone, hydroxyzine, cyproheptadine, zaleplon, and zolpidem.

See Table 1 below and Appendix A: Pharmacotherapy Dosing Table for dosing information. 
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June 2017 Page 23 of 34

Table 1. Medication Monotherapy for the Treatment of PTSD by Recommendation and Strength of Evidence

Quality of Evidence* Recommend For Suggest For Suggest Against Recommend Against No Recommendation For or Against

Moderate

Sertraline^

Paroxetine^

Fluoxetine

Venlafaxine

Prazosin (excluding the 

treatment of PTSD 

associated nightmares)

Prazosin for the treatment of PTSD 

associated nightmares

Low Nefazodone ±

Quetiapine

Olanzapine

Citalopram

Amitriptyline

Divalproex

Tiagabine

Guanfacine

Eszopiclone

Very Low Imipramine

Phenelzine±

Lamotrigine

Topiramate

Risperidone

Benzodiazepines

D-cycloserine

Hydrocortisone

Ketamine

Bupropion

Desipramine

D-serine

Escitalopram

Mirtazapine

No Data†

Antidepressants

Doxepin

Duloxetine‡

Desvenlafaxine

Fluvoxamine‡

Levomilnacipran

Nortriptyline

Trazodone

Vilazodone

Vortioxetine

Anxiolytic/Hypnotics

Buspirone‡

Cyproheptadine

Hydroxyzine

Zaleplon

Zolpidem

*The Work Group determined there was no high quality evidence regarding medication monotherapy

^FDA approved for PTSD

±Serious potential toxicity, should be managed carefully 

†No data were captured in the evidence review for the CPG and were not considered in development of this table

‡ Studies of these drugs did not meet the inclusion criteria for the systematic evidence review due to poor quality
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Clinician Summary

June 2017 Page 24 of 34

d. Augmentation Therapy

There are currently insufficient data and/or known adverse effect profiles for topiramate, baclofen, and 

pregabalin to recommend use as augmentation therapy. The Work Group also recommends against the 

use of atypical antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and divalproex as augmentation therapy due to low 

quality evidence and potential adverse effects. Currently, there is insufficient evidence also for the use of 

mirtazapine in combination with sertraline. Additionally, there has either been inconsistent evidence or 

insufficient evidence for the use of D-cycloserine or hydrocortisone in combination with exposure therapy. 

Table 2. Medication Augmentation and Combination* Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of 

PTSD by Recommendation and Strength of Evidence

Quality of 

Evidence±

Recommend 

For

Suggest 

For Suggest Against Recommend Against

No Recommendation For 

or Against

Moderate

Prazosin 

(excluding the 

treatment of 

PTSD associated 

nightmares)

Risperidone

Prazosin for the 

treatment of PTSD 

associated nightmares

Low Topiramate Divalproex

Olanzapine Hydrocortisone

Very Low

Baclofen

Pregabalin

D-cycloserine†

Mirtazapine and 

Sertraline^

No data‡ Other atypical 

antipsychotics Any drug not listed

*Combination means treatments are started simultaneously; augmentation means one treatment is started after another treatment (all treatments 

are augmentation unless otherwise noted)

±The Work Group determined there was no high quality evidence regarding medication augmentation and combination therapy 

†Outside of a research setting

^Combination treatment

‡No data were captured in the evidence review for the CPG and were not considered in development of this table

e. Prazosin

Global Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

We suggest against prazosin as monotherapy or augmentation therapy for global symptoms of PTSD based 

on lack of demonstrated efficacy. Although some small studies had demonstrated significant improvement

with prazosin compared to placebo in global PTSD symptoms, the recent VA Cooperative Study, which had 

almost twice as many subjects as the other four studies combined, showed no difference in the total CAPS 

and Clinical Global Impression of Change Scale (CGIC) scores in the prazosin and placebo arms; it also 

demonstrated a placebo effect that appeared larger than that seen in the other four trials.[71] 

Nightmares and Sleep Quality

Despite the fact that prazosin has been used for managing PTSD-associated nightmares in recent years, we 

found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of prazosin as mono- or augmentation 

therapy for nightmares or sleep disturbance associated with PTSD. Specifically, positive results in nearly all 

of the smaller studies reviewed [72-75] were contradicted by negative results in the much larger and 

stronger VA Cooperative Study.[71] 
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We recognize that these recommendations constitute a significant reversal of prazosin’s role in the current 

management of PTSD. We are recommending neither for nor against the continuation of prazosin in 

patients who believe it to be beneficial; the decision to stop or continue prazosin should be individualized 

and made using SDM. If patients and/or providers decide to discontinue prazosin, we suggest a slow taper 

of the dose, while monitoring for symptom worsening or reappearance. Prazosin may need to be 

continued or restarted in some patients.

f. Combination Therapy

Although many patients show clinical improvement in response to recommended evidence-based 

psychotherapies and/or pharmacotherapies, a sizable proportion of patients are partial- or nonresponders. Determining what to do for these patients is a clinically important question, yet the limited 

evidence available is insufficient to guide clinical decision making. Only a few studies have examined the 

benefits of administering medication and psychotherapy to either augment a single initial modality 

following inadequate response, or as a combination at the outset of therapy. In the absence of evidence to 

guide decision making, clinicians treating partial- or non-responders should rely on their clinical judgment, 

use an SDM approach, and take patient preferences into consideration.

g. Non-pharmacologic Biological Treatments

There is considerable interest in alternatives to either psychotherapy or pharmacology for the primary 

treatment of PTSD. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the majority of 

somatic therapies, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), electroconvulsive therapy 

(ECT), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), stellate ganglion block (SGB), or vagal nerve stimulation (VNS).

Based upon a lack of high quality RCTs supporting the efficacy of rTMS, ECT, HBOT, SGB, or VNS, the Work 

Group is unable to recommend their use for the primary treatment of PTSD.

h. Complementary and Integrative Treatments

The Work Group acknowledges the widespread use of complementary and integrative health (CIH)

practices as part of the treatment of individuals with PTSD in the DoD and VA healthcare systems. It is 

important to clarify that we are not recommending against the treatments but rather we are saying that, 

at this time, the research does not support the use of any CIH practice for the primary treatment of PTSD. 

These practices hold promise as interventions to improve wellness and promote recovery.

Even though the evidence is trending positively for the use of acupuncture, based on the lack of sham 

control and other study limitations, the Work Group’s assessment was that the current available evidence 

was still insufficient to recommend acupuncture as a primary treatment modality for PTSD. Practitioners 

should consider factors such as patient preference and treatment availability when determining CIH

treatment options.

There were more clinical trials available for meditation than for any other CIH modality. Grading the body 

of evidence for meditation overall was complicated by the heterogeneity of the types of meditation that 

had been assessed. Meditation is promising and may provide a safe, self-administered, and inexpensive 

intervention for PTSD. Unfortunately, the current research clearly does not establish its efficacy. Additional 
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June 2017 Page 26 of 34

high quality trials with adequate power, active control conditions, and longer follow-up periods are 

needed. 

Evidence suggests that yoga may be effective for PTSD. No major adverse events have been reported in 

the yoga interventions. However, the Work Group judged the evidence to be insufficient due to study 

limitations.

A number of other CIH modalities were reviewed, but none were found to have sufficient evidence to 

support any recommendations regarding their use.[76] Although there is much interest in the area of 

animal-assisted therapy, no studies evaluating the use of interventions with animals, such as equine 

therapy or canine therapy, met the threshold for inclusion in the review. At this time, there is no evidence 

to support their use for the primary treatment of PTSD.

i. Technology-based Treatment Modalities

We suggest internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) with feedback provided by a qualified 

facilitator (e.g., care manager, trained peer, therapist) as an alternative to no treatment for improvement 

in PTSD symptoms. Although it is not as well supported as other primary treatments for PTSD, iCBT may be 

suggested for patients who refuse other treatment interventions. iCBT may be useful to increase access to 

services and reduce stigma in seeking services. Before recommending iCBT to patients, clinicians should 

review the content to ensure its accuracy and ethical application. 

We recommend using trauma-focused psychotherapies that have demonstrated efficacy using secure 

video teleconferencing (VTC) modality when PTSD treatment is delivered via VTC. Although there are 

fewer studies examining the delivery of evidence-based treatments through VTC than those delivered inperson, there appears to be similar efficacy. VTC interventions are encouraged when in-person 

interventions are not feasible, the patient would benefit from more frequent contact than is feasible with 

face-to-face sessions, or the patient declines in-person treatment. There are some concerns associated 

with treatment delivery through VTC such as technical support, computer literacy, and human factors in 

using technology. Potential advantages include increased access and decreased stigma.

Providers using technology-assisted interventions should regularly encourage patients to complete the 

interventions and endeavor to maintain and strengthen the therapeutic relationship (e.g., through 

telephone contact), build patient rapport, stress practice, and ensure adequacy of safety protocols. 

Providers should ensure that their work complies with the regulations and procedures of the organization 

in which they are employed, legal standards, and the ethical standards of their professions. Patient 

confidentiality and safety should be monitored closely.

E. Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Co-occurring Conditions

a. Background on Co-occurring Conditions with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The vast majority of patients with PTSD will have one or more co-occurring conditions. Two of the most 

common are sleep disturbance (present in 90-100% of Veterans with PTSD [77,78]) and substance use 

disorder (SUD) (present in 12% to 48% of Veterans with PTSD [79]). This CPG presents strategies for 
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Clinician Summary

June 2017 Page 27 of 34

treating PTSD in the presence of these and other co-morbid conditions. However, discussion of primary 

treatments for the co-occurring conditions themselves is beyond the scope of this guideline.

Because of the high prevalence of comorbid conditions in the PTSD population, screening for other 

psychiatric and medical disorders is warranted (see also the VA/DoD CPGs for the Management of Major 

Depressive Disorder [MDD]1

, Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide2, and 

Management of Bipolar Disorder3

). Associated high-risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, unsafe weapon 

storage, dangerous driving, unprotected sex, needle sharing) should also be assessed in patients with PTSD 

and addressed in the treatment plan. It is generally best to employ a collaborative care treatment strategy

involving other medical and mental health specialists to address these health concerns simultaneously 

with PTSD. (See Recommendation 2 in full CPG regarding collaborative care).

RCTs have found good tolerance and efficacy for various trauma-focused PTSD treatments in patients with 

comorbid psychotic disorders,[80] personality disorders,[81] severe mental illness,[82] dissociation,[83,84]

anger,[85] suicidal ideation,[86] and depression.[85] One RCT reviewed by the Work Group also found no 

evidence of adverse outcomes when using exposure-based psychotherapy in patients with PTSD and 

cardiovascular disease.[87] The Work Group did not find any studies meeting the threshold for review that 

examined the common comorbidities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or pain, but readers are encouraged to 

reference the VA/DoD CPG for the Management of Concussion/mTBI4 and the VA/DoD CPG for the 

Management of Chronic Multisymptom Illness5 [CMI] for the primary assessment and management of 

these conditions. Recommendations regarding other common co-occurring conditions are as follows:

• Suicidality (see Recommendation 4 in the full CPG and the VA/DoD CPG for Assessment and 

Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide2

)

 Suicidality should be assessed early on and carefully monitored at each visit.

• SUD (see Recommendation 38 in the full CPG and the VA/DoD CPG for Management of SUD6

)

 Patients with PTSD and SUD (including nicotine use disorder) can both tolerate and 

benefit from concurrent treatment for both conditions. 

 The presence of an SUD should not prevent concurrent treatment with evidence-based, 

trauma-focused therapy for PTSD. 

 1 See the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Major Depressive Disorder. Available at: 

http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/mh/mdd/index.asp 2 See the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide. Available at: 

http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/mh/srb/index.asp 3 See the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Bipolar Disorder in Adults. Available at: 

http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/mh/bd/index.asp 4 See the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Concussion/mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Available at: 

http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/rehab/mtbi/index.asp 5See the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Chronic Multisymptom Illness. Available at: 

https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/mr/cmi/index.asp 6 See the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Substance Use Disorder. Available at: 

http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/mh/sud/index.asp
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 Non-trauma-focused therapies, such as Seeking Safety, are not recommended for the 

treatment of PTSD in the presence of an SUD due to lack of evidence for improvement 

in core PTSD symptoms and mixed evidence regarding improvement in SUD symptoms.

 Topiramate and prazosin may reduce alcohol consumption, but have not demonstrated

efficacy in improving the primary symptoms of PTSD. However, desipramine and 

paroxetine may reduce both alcohol consumption and core PTSD symptoms.

 Combining medications and psychotherapy may be another effective strategy for 

treating PTSD and co-occurring SUDs.

• Sleep Disturbance (see Recommendations 28a, 28b, 39, and 40 in the full CPG)

 Providers should examine potential causes of sleep disturbance independently of PTSD, 

particularly with respect to underlying medical, dietary, and environmental etiologies.

 For patients with PTSD and Sleep Disturbance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for 

Insomnia should be considered first-line treatment, with medication considered a 

second-line intervention following a SDM discussion about potential harms and 

benefits.

 The data are inconclusive regarding the best choice of intervention for nightmares. We 

found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of prazosin, and the 

data are inconclusive regarding the best choice of psychotherapy.
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Clinician Summary

June 2017 Page 29 of 34

Appendix A: Pharmacotherapy Dosing Table

Therapeutic Category Initial Dose Dose Range Clinical Considerations: Comorbidities and Safety

Antidepressants

Monotherapy

 Fluoxetine* 

 Paroxetine* 

 Sertraline* 

 Venlafaxine* 

10-20 mg daily

10-20 mg daily

25-60 mg daily

IR: 25 mg 2 or 3 times a day

XR: 37.5 mg once daily

20-80 mg daily

20-50 mg daily

50-200 mg daily

75-375 mg in 2-3 divided doses

75-225 mg once daily

 Avoid abrupt discontinuation; withdrawal symptoms 

with sudden discontinuation of SSRIs and SNRIs, 

paroxetine and venlafaxine in particular

 Paroxetine and sertraline have FDA label indications 

for treating PTSD

 Common adverse effects of the SSRIs and SNRIs 

include nausea, headache, diarrhea, anxiety, 

nervousness, sexual dysfunction, agitation, dizziness, 

hyponatremia or SIADH, and serotonin syndrome

 Venlafaxine can elevate blood pressure; caution 

advised with patients with hypertension

 Nefazodone± 25–100 mg 2 times daily 150-600 mg in 2 divided doses  Nefazodone is associated with life-threatening hepatic 

failure; monitor for signs and symptoms including 

LFTs; avoid if active liver disease; do not re-challenge

 Nefazodone is subject to many drug interactions, 

particularly those involving CYP3A4 and glycoprotein

 Imipramine± 25-75 mg daily 100-300 mg in 1 or 2 divided doses  Avoid TCAs within three months of an acute MI

 TCAs are relatively contraindicated in patients with 

coronary artery disease or prostatic enlargement

 TCAs side effects include dry mouth, dry eyes, 

constipation, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, 

ventricular arrhythmias, weight gain, and drowsiness 

Photosensitivity may occur

 Phenelzine± 15 mg 3 times daily 15 mg daily; 90 mg in divided doses  Phenelzine considerations include drug-drug and drugfood interactions, risk of hypertensive crisis, 

hypotension, and anticholinergic effects

Abbreviations: FDA: Food and Drug Administration; IR: immediate release; LFT: liver function tests; mg: milligram; MI: myocardial infarction; PTSD: posttraumatic stress disorder; 

SIADH: syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone; SIT: Stress Inoculation Training; SNRI: serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors; SSRI: serotonin reuptake inhibitors; 

TCA: tricyclic antidepressant; XR: extended release

*Strong For recommendation

±Weak For recommendation
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June 2017 Page 30 of 34

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