PTSD: National Center for PTSD
Using the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid with Your Patients
Using the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid with Your Patients
The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is an online tool to educate people with PTSD about effective treatment options and encourage them to participate actively in decisions about their care.
This tool offers comprehensive information on first-line, evidence-based PTSD treatments identified in the 2017 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline, including:
- Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Key Features
Using the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid, your patients can:
- Learn the basics about each of the featured evidence-based treatments, including what they would be asked to do in the treatment, how long it lasts, and how well it works.
- Watch videos of expert clinicians describing each treatment in clear and simple language.
- Compare the treatments they like the most in a personalized chart that helps them see how different treatments measure up to one another and to their own preferences.
- Find answers to some of the most common questions about PTSD treatment, such as: Can I get PTSD treatment if I am drinking or using drugs? Or, will I have to talk in detail about my trauma?
- Get helpful tips on how to work with you to make decisions about their PTSD care.
Clinician's User Guide
Patients can use this decision aid on their own, or you and your patient can work through it together during an appointment. Use the guide for helpful tips and information on how to best use this decision aid with your patients.
Download: PTSD Treatment Decision Aid Clinician's User Guide (PDF)
Promotional Materials
These promotional materials provide a quick overview and link to the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid. Print copies of the flyer or rack card to hand out or make them available in your office for patients to take. The digital bulletin board image can be used on most wide-screen bulletin boards. Share our web badge on your website, blog, or social media page - and add the email signature to your outgoing email messages.
Download: Flyer (PDF)
Download: Rack Card (PDF)
Download: Digital Bulletin Board (PNG)
Download: Web Badge (JPG)
Download: Email Signature (JPG)
Continuing Education Course
See the accredited online course Shared Decision-Making for PTSD. It provides information on and a practical model for shared decision-making for PTSD treatment.
You May Also Be Interested In
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD (2023)
Get information on evidence-based treatment recommendations for PTSD.
Clinician's Guide to Medications for PTSD
Get key information and guidance on the best medications for PTSD.