Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): General Information about these Condition, Symptoms & Treatment in Philadelphia, Manhattan, Delaware, South Jersey and the areas that we serve.
Find a local Psychiatrist or Therapist who Treats Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates and its providers are able to treat individuals for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and C-PTSD
both in-office at their various locations in Philadelphia, Manhattan, Delaware, South Jersey and elsewhere, and virtually via Telehealth Psychiatry. We serve PA, NJ, DE, NY, FL, CA and others. Our academically oriented providers will tailor an individualized plan for your specific needs, which may include medication management, behavioral modification, and/or psychotherapy.
How Common is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has a life-time prevalence among adults in the US of about 7 to 8 percent. While no one should experience trauma, it is unfortunately not very uncommon for individuals to experience traumatic events that can lead to PTSD and its symptoms. Not all individuals who experience traumatic events go on to meet criteria for PTSD. However, for those who do, there are several treatments available in Philadelphia and throughout the areas that we serve.
About 33% of PTSD is caused by sexual assault or sexual violence (the most common cause of PTSD in women), 30% by interpersonal-network traumatic experiences (such as the unexpected death of a loved one or a life-threatening illness of a family member), 12% by interpersonal violence (childhood physical abuse, physical assault in adults), 10% by participation in organized violence (military, law enforcement), 10% by events such as motor vehicle accidents, chemical exposures & natural disasters, and 3% by exposure to organized violence (kidnapping, refugees, living in a war zone).
What are Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is caused by exposure to an actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. The individual who develops PTSD could be the victim of the event, witness the event, or learn about the event (if it occurs to a close family member or friend). PTSD is characterized by the development of intrusive thoughts, nightmares and flashbacks about the traumatic event. There is often an avoidance of reminders (triggers) of the trauma, hyper-vigilance (being easily startled for example) and other symptoms present, such as sleep disturbances.
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is not an “official” psychiatric diagnosis found in the DSM-V (the medical textbook that most psychiatrists and therapists use when diagnosing and treating PTSD and other mental illnesses). However, it only makes sense that if an individual is exposed to repeated or sustained trauma, there could be psychological consequences that could result in emotional distress for the individual. When individuals use the term “Complex PTSD” they’re referring to a constellation of symptoms caused by this type of repeated trauma. Many individuals (including some psychiatrists, therapists and mental health professionals) will include less severe traumatic events as possible causes of C-PTSD (referred to as “micro-traumas”), than those needed to meet the criteria for “PTSD.” The idea is, that if individuals experience repeated traumatic events, then the traumas themselves can be less severe (than witnessing the death of another for example), and still cause severe psychological trauma that warrants treatment. PTSD and its symptoms can affect all aspects of one’s life, including social, work, romantic relationships and others.
What are Risk Factors for Developing PTSD or Complex PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD can affect individuals of all races, socioeconomic statuses, genders and orientations. Additional risks factors for meeting criteria for, and developing, PTSD include:
- A history of exposure to traumas before the more recent event.
- Childhood adversity (including bullying, abuse and others)
- Poor social support
- Co-occurring Psychiatric Illness, such as anxiety, depression or other mood disorders.
- Physical Injury (such as traumatic brain injury) as part of the traumatic event
- Others
What Treatments are available for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and C-PTSD?
Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates offers various treatment options for individuals suffering with PTSD. We have offices in Philadelphia, Manhattan, Southern New Jersey, Delaware, Pittsburgh and others. We also offer telemedicine to PA, NJ, NY, DE, FL, CA and others as well.
Medication Management: There are various types of medication options for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and C-PTSD. These include medications that increase the availability of serotonin (once daily medications such as SSRIs and SNRIs), medications that calm the sympathetic nervous system and quiet the “fight or flight” pathway from firing so quickly and intensely (such as beta blockers, like propranolol or atenolol), as needed anti-anxiety medications such as vistaril (hydroxyzine) and even controlled anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (clonazepam [klonopin], lorazepam [ativan], alprazolam [xanax]) – which should be used with caution. Individuals may also benefit from medications that can help establish a normal sleep-wake cycle, as poor sleep can significantly increase someone’s vulnerability to anxiety and symptoms of PTSD.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy can be an integral part of a patient’s treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. We recommend that individuals choose providers who are trauma-informed, and understand the complexities of providing medical care to an individual who has experienced trauma. There are additional certifications that providers can obtain, that may help them to effectively and compassionately treat individuals within this population.
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy that involves recalling traumatic experiences while simultaneously moving ones eyes back and forth, or focusing on a sound. This psychotherapeutic technique should be done by individuals with additional training, and can help reprogram the brain and one’s response to specific triggers from a traumatic event. It is a non-medication option for the treatment of PTSD (albeit, it can be used in conjunction with medication management).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy: CBT and Exposure therapy are specific types of therapy that many of the providers at Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates have training and certification in. CBT and exposure therapy will work to reframe the automatic thoughts that one has related to traumatic events, and their triggers, and to desensitize them from having such strong psychological, physical and emotional responses, when those triggers occur. CBT can also be utilized in conjunction with medication management for PTSD, but it can also be utilized without medication management as well.
Why Choose Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD).
- 25 Academically oriented Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists and Therapists who trained at Institutes such as The Johns Hopkins Hospital, The University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
- In-office and Virtual Telehealth Appointments within 1-2 weeks.
- Evidenced-based and holistic care, which may or may not include medication management for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. We work with our patients to create an individualized plan that meets your specific needs and preferences for the treatment of PTSD.
- Providers licensed in PA, NJ, DE, NY, FL, CA and others. Office locations in Philadelphia, on The Main Line, Pittsburgh, Manhattan, Wilmington, Delaware and others.
Schedule with Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates for a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Evaluation, Diagnosis, Medication Management & Therapy.
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