Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Treatment through prolonged exposure (PE)

This method, developed by the psychologist Edna Foa, PhD and adopted by the American army for treating soldiers and veterans, is based on short-term treatment protocols, which involve controlled exposure to memories and stimuli related to the traumatic event. This exposure, which is conducted in a safe and supportive environment, gradually diminishes the intensity of the emotional distress and fosters learning through the processing of the experience.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

This method was developed by Francine Shapiro, PhD, who discovered that side-to-side eye movement, tapping on the shoulders, or listening to alternating music in both ears can diminish the intensity of distressing memories. This method is based on the assumption that a traumatic memory remains “frozen,” as an unprocessed memory that does not allow adaptive processing and therefore negatively impacts a person’s life. Consequently, the treatment aims to process the traumatic memory, reducing negative thoughts and sensations while strengthening positive ones. bilateral stimulation activates different parts of the brain, creating new neural connections, and as a result, facilitating emotional regulation.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

This approach, developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan for treating individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), can also be beneficial for those experiencing difficulties with emotional regulation. The method aims to support patients in living more rewarding lives in both the personal and interpersonal contexts, including those who experience post-trauma. This method integrates individual and group therapy to assist patients in developing tools for emotional regulation, improving relationships, and reducing self-destructive behaviors. The principles of the method include a combination of acceptance and change: unconditional acceptance of the patient alongside efforts to foster change and improve the quality of life. The method also fosters mindfulness, acceptance of a complex reality, learning emotional regulation skills, collaborative work between the therapist and patient (a collaborative therapeutic approach), and improvement of communication skills.

Somatic Experiencing (SE)

A model developed by Dr. Peter Levin, significantly emphasizes the role of physical experience and how processing of an experience within the body can help alleviate traumatic symptoms and restore physiological balance (Homeostasis). According to this model, attempts to process trauma through the emotional or cognitive channels will not necessarily lead to significant relief, and sometimes it may even cause a deterioration. Instead of focusing directly on the traumatic memory, the method aims to focus on the physical sensations that arise when recollecting the traumatic event. The goal is to stabilize the nervous system and release trapped traumatic energy from the body.

Mindfulness

A therapeutic method aimed at fostering present-moment awareness with nonjudgmental observations. Mindfulness helps calm the body and mind in the face of emotional overload, heightened alertness, and overstimulation, common experiences of trauma patients. Through practice and utilizing techniques like meditation or breathing, patients can focus on the present, reducing the tendency to automatically return to traumatic memories and enabling more monitored and self-aware responses.

SEE FAR CBT

This model, developed by Prof. Mooli Lahad and Miki Doron for the treatment of trauma and anxiety disorders, integrates several therapeutic approaches considered highly effective: the Somatic Experiencing (SE), the Fantastic Reality technique (FR), and the Cognitive Behavioral Technique (CBT). The model focuses on constructing a narrative of the traumatic event while enhancing the ability to manage fears and anxieties and rebuilding the patient’s sense of security and self-esteem.

Psychodynamic therapy

This approach aims to achieve an in-depth processing of the traumatic experience and its impact on the individual in the present, in relation to past events and connections with various figures in the patient’s life. The external world is explored in contrast to the patients’ internal world. As part of the therapeutic work, there will be a consideration of interpretations, defense mechanisms, the identification of attachment patterns, unconscious patterns, unconscious content, and repeated patterns within the therapeutic relationship.

Despite active and extensive research, there is currently no specific medication designed specifically for PTSD. Medication is administered according to specific symptoms of a patient and includes anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications. These medications do not treat or cure the disorder itself but rather alleviate the adjoining symptoms. It should be noted that medications are not recommended as a single solution but as a complementary treatment for mental therapy.

The main objective of PTSD therapy is to alleviate stress on multiple levels: mental, physical, and spiritual. Additionally, the manifestations of the disorder vary from person to person, and what works for one person may not work for another.

In recent years, a holistic perception of the individual has become stronger, emphasizing the need for tailored therapy. This can include a variety of approaches, in addition to those discussed previously, including:

• Complimentary medicine: This category includes shiatsu therapy, reflexology, acupuncture, homeopathic treatments, therapeutic yoga, biofeedback, and similar therapies.
• Spiritual care: This approach centers on the individual’s spiritual resources, aiming to create an appropriate spiritual space that facilitates deep inner exploration and establishes a connection with purpose and hope.