Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD) describes the problems some people have after experiencing a traumatic event.

PTSD includes three major types of difficulties: re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance or emotional numbness, and feeling on edge or more wary of danger.

You may re-experience the trauma through:

recurring and upsetting thoughts about what happened
recurring nightmares
acting or feeling like the trauma is happening again
being extremely upset when reminded of the trauma
experiencing physical reactions to reminders of the trauma (like a racing heart or sweaty palms)

You may avoid or feel numb through:

trying not to think, talk, or have feelings about the trauma
trying to stay away from people, places, and activities that remind you of what happened
being unable to remember important parts of what happened
having less interest in things you used to enjoy
not feeling close to other people
feeling emotionally numb or like you can’t have strong feelings
believing that your future plans and goals won’t come true

You may feel more on edge or wary of danger and may:

have trouble sleeping
be really irritable or have angry outbursts
have trouble concentrating
always be on the lookout for danger
be very easily startled or frightened

All individuals with PTSD have experienced at least one traumatic event and some have experienced many traumatic incidents over the course of their lives. Because of this, it's no surprise that many people also experience other problems in addition to PTSD.

Remember, many upsetting things can happen in a person’s life, but not all upsetting events lead to PTSD. If you are a smoker and you feel you have any of these symptoms, you should speak to a counselor or psychologist. Please contact the Research on the Treatment of Smoking and PTSD Project for more information.

Treatment for PTSD

Various forms of treatment have been used for treatment of PTSD. In this study, we will be using a specific cognitive-behavioral treatment program called Prolonged Exposure.

Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy has been shown to be highly effective for treatment of PTSD. PE is a theoretically based and empirically supported therapy supported by over 20 years of research. It was developed and tested by Dr. Edna Foa of the University of Pennsylvania. Treatment typically involves 9-12 weekly sessions that last 90-120 minutes. The treatment program is focused upon discussing fears, recalling the traumatic event, relaxation training, and confronting safe situations that involve memories of the trauma.