Psychotherapy of posttraumatic stress disorders

Since the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was introduced in DSM-III in 1980, a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches have been developed to address the specific problems and needs of traumatized patients. Successful treatment of PTSD requires a well thought-out therapeutic attitude. The therapist must find a well-balanced position between over-identification and turning away out of helplessness. A sensation-seeking attitude should be avoided as should the danger of vicarious traumatisation. In many instances, PTSD can not be treated sufficiently by psychotherapy alone: a comprehensive, multi-modal treatment plan may include pharmacotherapeutic, physical, social, legal, and other interventions. Early psychotherapeutic interventions in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event follow the rules of crisis intervention (immediacy, focus on the current problems, time limitation). Special attention should be paid to the issues of developing a trusting therapeutic relationship, creating an atmosphere of safety, helping the patient to regain control over and/or distance himself from intrusive recollections. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and other "power therapies" can offer quick relief from symptoms. After collective traumatization, psychological debriefings are widely used although the evidence for their usefulness in preventing PTSD is questionable. In patients with chronic PTSD, the psychotherapist should not work exclusively on the traumatic event and its sequelae: treatment should be oriented towards the future rather than the past. Instead of exploring, the therapist should try to activate the patients' resources and help them to find new meaning in their future life.