Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.
TL;DR
PTSD is the nervous system failing to file a traumatic memory as past — so it keeps replaying as present threat. Trauma-focused therapies (EMDR, trauma-focused CBT) have the strongest evidence of any PTSD treatment and can resolve it, not just dampen it. Self-medicating with alcohol worsens the condition reliably. Omega-3s have preliminary evidence as adjuncts only. If symptoms persist beyond a month after trauma, professional treatment is the highest-yield step available.
Overview
A condition where a traumatic experience keeps intruding into the present — nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoidance of reminders, persisting beyond a month after the event. PTSD reflects a nervous system stuck in threat mode, and trauma-focused therapy can genuinely resolve it rather than merely manage it.
Root Causes
Evidence synthesis: Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR have the strongest evidence base — meta-analyses show large effect sizes, with many patients no longer meeting PTSD criteria after a course, and guidelines worldwide list them as first-line. SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) have RCT support as second-line. Alcohol and cannabis reliably worsen PTSD outcomes in longitudinal studies — the relief is short and the condition deepens. Omega-3 fatty acids have preliminary trials (including post-disaster prevention studies) suggesting possible benefit, but evidence is early and adjunctive at best. A clinically important finding: many trauma reactions in the first month are normal acute stress responses that resolve; persistence beyond a month is the threshold for PTSD assessment. Comorbid sleep disruption responds to imagery rehearsal therapy for nightmares.
How It's Diagnosed
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor or mental health professional if flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, or avoidance persist beyond a month after trauma, or if you have thoughts of self-harm. Trauma-focused therapy is the first-line treatment and works well for many people.
Supplements Studied For This
Supporting Research
Impact of dissociation on the effectiveness of psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: meta-analysis
Effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on psychophysiological symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in accident survivors
Pharmacotherapy for sleep disturbances in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A network meta-analysis
N-acetylcysteine for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder: a multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial
Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults
Frequently Asked Questions
My Notes
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