Treating PTSD in primary care: One small step is one giant leap

Comments on an article by J. A. Cigrang et al. (see record 2017-56601-006). At first glance, the article by Cigrang et al. is another in a long line of randomized clinical trials of psychotherapy for a common condition. Under closer scrutiny, however, it is a groundbreaking study that challenges many commonly held beliefs about effective interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cigrang et al. have begun to change the status quo with this study within the DoD. The same protocol is now in the early stages of implementation as a pilot in the VA's Patient Aligned Care Team (VA equivalent of the Patient Centered Medical Home). In addition to treating PTSD, cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure may provide relief for individuals suffering from symptoms significant enough to cause distress but not rising to the level of precision needed for a diagnosis of PTSD: the bread and butter of integrated primary care. Although a significant step forward, the study by Cigrant et al. is only a beginning. There is obviously a need for replication and possible enhancements of this exposure treatment. There are other condensed versions of CPT being developed and tested as well. Many questions remain. (PsycINFO Database Record