Year: 2025 | Month: April-June | Volume: 10 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 131-140
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20250212
The Nuanced Nature of PTSD Treatment: CBT, Pharmacotherapy, Or A Balance of Both?
Shanaaya Mongia
Student at Lotus Valley International School, Noida
ABSTRACT
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a multifaceted psychiatric condition that necessitates tailored treatment approaches. This paper examines the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy in addressing various PTSD manifestations. CBT, through structured techniques like Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), demonstrates long-term efficacy by fostering coping mechanisms and addressing cognitive distortions. Pharmacotherapy, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and prazosin, provides immediate symptom relief, especially for acute cases. However, the limitations of both methods underscore the importance of an integrated treatment approach. This paper concludes that combining CBT and pharmacotherapy offers the most effective strategy, addressing both immediate and long-term psychological needs while accommodating the diverse experiences of PTSD patients.
Keywords: PTSD, Treatment, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Pharmacotherapy