PTSD & Trauma
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops in some people after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. East Coast Telepsychiatry provides trauma-informed psychiatric evaluation and medication management for PTSD via secure, private telehealth visits.
The short answer
What are PTSD symptoms and treatment options?
PTSD symptoms can include intrusive memories or nightmares, distress around reminders, avoidance, negative changes in mood or thinking, feeling detached or hopeless, hypervigilance, being easily startled, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating. PTSD treatment may include trauma-focused psychotherapy, medication when appropriate, or coordinated care. A trauma-informed evaluation can clarify whether symptoms meet criteria for PTSD or are related to another condition.
Common Symptoms
- Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares
- Emotional distress triggered by reminders of trauma
- Avoidance of triggering people, places, or activities
- Negative changes in mood — detachment, hopelessness, numbness
- Hypervigilance — easily startled or feeling on guard
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Common questions
- Can a psychiatrist help with PTSD?
- Yes. A psychiatrist or psychiatric prescriber can assess PTSD symptoms, safety, sleep, co-occurring depression or anxiety, and medication options when clinically appropriate. Trauma-focused therapy is often an important part of care, so psychiatric treatment may be coordinated with a therapist who provides evidence-based trauma treatment.
- Can PTSD treatment be provided online?
- Telepsychiatry can be appropriate for some people with PTSD when a private, stable setting is available and the provider determines virtual care is safe and clinically suitable. Routine telepsychiatry is not emergency care, and urgent safety concerns require local crisis or emergency services.
Written and reviewed by Amy Pharr, APRN, FPMHNP-C — Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Source: NIMH: PTSD Overview
