Adult Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Screening and Treating in Primary Care

Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affect patients' physical health and daily functioning. Primary care physicians should remember to screen for trauma history and symptoms of PTSD when patients present with somatization, chronic pain, or other unexplained symptoms. Perceived loss of control, including physical examinations and procedures, may be frightening, and physicians should ask the patient's permission before touching them. Patients who have PTSD benefit from treatment, including both psychopharmacology (primarily selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and psychotherapy. Finally, hearing patients' stories of trauma and exposure to very sick patients can be traumatizing for physicians, who are encouraged to actively engage in self-care activities.