Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Diverse Settings: Recent Advances and Challenges for the Future

Racial and ethnic minorities are at high risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing a traumatic event and are less likely to receive evidence-based treatment for their symptoms. There is a growing body of literature showing that culturally appropriate interventions result in greater uptake, symptom reduction, and sustained treatment gains. This article review explores new findings in the cultural understanding of PTSD among racial and ethnic minorities. We first review recent advances in the understanding of PTSD symptomotology. Next, we provide overview of trials demonstrating efficacy and effectiveness of cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE), and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) in diverse communities. Then, we discuss specific implementation strategies common across intervention trials used to increase feasibility, acceptability, adoption, and sustainability. Last, we discuss areas for future research and dissemination efforts.