Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Extreme stress, such as a serious accident, exposure to violence, war or natural disasters, but also the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness, can cause a major injury (Greek: trauma) to the psyche. After overcoming an initial state of shock, a delayed reaction can occur from a few weeks to six months, in rare cases even years later, resulting in psychological disorders known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The disorders affect patients on the psychological, physical, and psychosocial levels.

Symptoms

The range of symptoms is very wide. Characteristically, the triggering Event is experienced again and again in one's thoughts or feelings. Sometimes a sound or a smell is enough to trigger a so-called flashback. Nightmares, insomnia and a high level of tension with jitteriness, as well as memory gaps and avoidance behavior are also typical of PTSD. These individual symptoms often lead to social withdrawal, which is a further restriction to livng for the patient. The concomitant diagnoses are above all depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse as well as physical symptoms known as somatization disorders.

Over the course of their lives, almost eight percent of all people develop PTSD, with women being affected more often than men.

Good prospects of recovery!

The sooner PTSD is treated professionally, the greater the probability of being able to return to normal everyday life. With early and appropriate therapy, the chances of recovery are high. Therapy takes place either as an in-patient on ward 5-East with 16 beds or in the form of day-care treatment in the Psychosomatic Day Care Clinic. Upon request, the patient’s family can be closely involved in the treatment.

Individually tailored therapy concept

For patients with PTSD, we offer comprehensive and integrated therapy with individually tailored plans based on the S3 guidelines of the DGPPN. The therapy is mainly based on psychotherapeutic procedures and includes individualized single sessions as well as psychotherapeutic group therapy. We also offer joint group therapy and psychoeducation groups.

Supplementary therapeutic offers complete the individual treatment plan. If necessary, we will also provide medication.

Networks

We cooperate closely with local self-help groups and networks such as Orphea.