Conventional and Unconventional Treatment Methods of PTSD:
Which is Better at Decreasing Symptoms of PTSD?
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CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 2
Conventional and Unconventional Treatment Methods of PTSD: Which is Better at
Decreasing Symptoms of PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that is typically
followed after one has experienced or directly witness a traumatic event (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
Symptoms of PTSD may be present a month after the event or sometimes may even take longer
to appear, it is vital that one seeks help to treat and reduce these symptoms of PTSD as they can
and will impede on ones day-to-day functioning (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Symptoms of PTSD
include but are not limited to, having flashbacks of the traumatic event, avoiding any stimuli
(people, places or things) that remind one of the event, feelings of hopelessness towards the self,
and detachment from the real world and being in a constant state of arousal (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
Every person is susceptible to developing symptoms of PTSD, however, many of those
who have served in the military have been diagnosed with PTSD (National Veterans Foundation,
2015; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2018). According to the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (2018), about 30% of Vietnam veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD in
their lifetime. The cause of their diagnoses are a result of combat or missions that expose them to
horrific and life-threatening events (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2018).
Having symptoms of PTSD as a result of fighting wars, being in battle and/or
experiencing life in deployment can take a serious toll on the veteran. It is imperative that
veterans be given and seek out treatments for their symptoms of PTSD. However, what kinds of
treatments should veterans choose to receive? With the abundance of treatment methods to
choose from, it is important to determine which is most effective in treating symptoms of PTSD
in the future. This paper will explore specifically whether conventional treatment methods are
better than unconventional treatment methods to treat for PTSD symptoms. Treatment methods
CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 3
like cognitive-behavior therapy and exposure therapy, or cognitive-exposure therapy will be
considered conventional treatment methods as these forms of treatment of PTSD have been used
for a long time by mental health practitioners. On the contrary, unconventional treatment
methods include using the internet to conduct therapy sessions, virtual reality (VR) simulations
and even creative arts to help treat PTSD symptoms.
Literature Review
Treatment Types for PTSD
Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg (2006) list and analyzed the effectiveness of the different types
of psychological treatments available for PTSD; their list ranged from highly researched and
common types treatment methods to those that are fairly newly developed forms of treatment for
PTSD. Among the treatments available, cognitive-behavioral treatments have been shown to be
the most effective in treating symptoms of PTSD (Bryant, & Tarrier, 2003; Tarrier, Liversidge &
Gregg, 2006). Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg (2006) also highlighted that treatment methods focused
on re-exposing the client to the trauma while also involving the analysis of thought processes that
have been altered by the trauma be a more beneficial form of treatment. Tarrier, Liversidge &
Gregg (2006), mentioned the fact that some new forms of treatment like VR simulation (to
reassemble the traumatic event) and using software programs and the internet to administer therapy
have not been well researched. Research done by Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg (2006), testing each
form of treatment surveying patients show that cognitive based forms of therapy are usually
preferred over any other methods of treating PTSD. While new forms of treatment including VR,
computer-based treatments and using the internet to conduct therapy (e-therapy) were not highly
rated and recommended by patients.
CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 4
Pomerantz (2017) talked about the two main psychotherapy treatments of PTSD, which
included cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) being the most
common treatment methods provided to veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Pomerantz (2017)
highlighted that both CPT and PE have been a first-choice treatment method by the Veterans
Health Administration (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to treat PTSD. Though CPT
and PE are more commonly offered as a first choice, many veterans were not keen in participating
in these types of treatments because of the stigma and having to keep up with the weekly
appointments (Pomerantz, 2017). Besides being able to treat PTSD, both CPT and PE have been
shown to be able to help veterans who suffered from smaller levels (symptoms) of PTSD – did not
meet the criteria to be diagnosed for PTSD (Pomerantz, 2017). Though CPT and PE do not
guarantee successful reduction and disappearance of PTSD symptoms, CPT and PE have been
shown to be an important factor for patients to be able to receive more intense forms of treatments
and allow for more patients to be more willing to receive treatment (Pomerantz, 2017).
Hobfoll, Blais, Stevens, Walt & Gengler (2016) published a paper that talked about using
an online cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention to help treat veterans PTSD symptoms. The
study looked at the online web-based program called Vets Prevail that is a form of intervention
for veterans who have come back from deployment on the internet that allows the user to be able
to interact with the online tool but also interact with real life users (Hobfoll et al., 2016). This web-
based intervention aimed to help veterans by delivering CBT treatments through seven sessions
besides lessons posted, this web-based program also allowed for veterans to contact other veterans
who experienced PTSD symptoms (Hobfoll et al., 2016). These lessons were done at the patients
own pace whenever they wanted and that helped the patient understand how their thoughts and
feelings could affect their day-to-day functioning (Hobfoll et al., 2016). Hobfoll et al. (2016)
CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 5
showed that veterans who participated in their study and used Vets Prevail had shown a significant
lowering of their symptoms of PTSD. Hobfoll et al. (2016) also highlight that the treatment had
also been effective in removing barriers that existed so that more veterans are able to receive
treatment for their symptoms. Vets Prevail could be a first step intervention used to help alleviate
first signs of PTSD in veterans so that symptoms are not prolonged and dragged out (Hobfoll et
al., 2016).
Baker, Metcalf, Tracey & ODonnell (2018) reviewed different types of creative arts
therapy methods in helping to treat PTSD. Baker et al. (2018) first summarized a study done on
using music therapy to treat PTSD, which entailed an improvisation of music instruments and a
reflection of the experience with and without contact with a therapist. The study concluded that
both music therapies conducted with and without contact with a therapy had very low impact in
treating symptoms of PTSD (Baker et al., 2018). The next form of creative arts therapy studied by
Baker et al. (2018) was art therapy treatment which had patients making different types of art with
and without contact with a therapist (Baker et al., 2018). Baker et al. (2018) found that art therapy
had shown a significant reduction of PTSD among participants in this group. Baker et al. (2018)
also found that drama therapy, showed not effect in helping reduce symptoms of PTSD. Overall,
the evidence showed very low effectiveness of the treatment of PTSD using creative arts therapies,
however creative arts therapy does provide those diagnosed with PTSD another alternative
treatment to PTSD (Baker et al., 2018).
Counterargument
Much of the empirical evidence above does show more support to the conventional
treatment methods of PTSD. However, one piece of evidence does point to unconventional
treatment methods being an effective route of treatment of PTSD. According to Hobfoll et al.
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(2016), it would seem as if web-based types of treatments are quite effective in treating
symptoms of PTSD. Hobfoll et al. (2016) conducted a study using a web-based program called
Vets Prevail to see how effective the program would be in treating PTSD in veterans. This
program used media lessons as well as community posts (so veterans would be able to interact
with each other if they wanted to) to help deliver the principles of CBT veterans would be able
to receive the most effective treatment of PTSD but at their own time and in the comfort of their
own homes if they used Vets Prevail (Hobfoll et al., 2016). Though Vets Prevail does provide
CBT, it is unconventional because this treatment is still being provided through the internet and
not face-to-face.
Pomerantz (2017) highlights that many veterans do not wish to seek out conventional
methods of treatment like (CPT or PE) because of the stigma surrounding the treatment of PTSD.
Using unconventional treatment methods like Vets Prevail helps lessen the stigma around getting
psychological help because this is not a traditional form of receiving mental health treatment
(Hobfoll et al., 2016). Using Vets Prevail, veterans would complete this through a computer.
Because the measure would be a web-based program, the veterans would be able to stay
anonymous and still interact with others, especially with a therapist, as this program was also
developed with the help of mental health practitioners. Veterans would not face the
embarrassment of seeking or receiving treatment because they would use Vets Prevail in the
comfort of their own home and remain anonymous so people would not be able to trace it back to
them. Besides that, having Vets Prevail used a common method of treating PTSD would help
reach a variety of patients especially those who live further away in the suburbs and prevent
them from getting the best care (Hobfoll et al., 2016).
CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 7
Discussion
According to the article published by Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg (2006) a majority of
people would much rather undergo conventional forms of treatment, which include having to see
a therapist in order to receive CBT. Using technology like VR to simulate the traumatic event, or
even using the internet to provide the same form of treatment were not preferred by veterans to
help symptoms of PTSD. Out of all the treatments available, veterans still preferred using CBT
and also using exposure therapy to help them start the healing process, though be re-exposed to
the trauma may cause more stress (Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg, 2006). Tarrier, Liversidge &
Gregg (2006) make very valid statements about the effectiveness of conventional treatments like
CBT and ET, and also point out what forms and types of treatments are accepted by veterans to
help treat their PTSD.
Pomerantz (2017) also backed up the effectiveness of CBT treatments and PE treatment,
with Pomerantz highlighting that CPT showed to be a very common treatment method of PTSD.
According to the American Psychological Association (2017), CPT is a type of CBT that aims to
help the patient to change any beliefs of the trauma that are obstructive. It was said that CPT
specifically is a very effective form of treatment of PTSD as both the Department of Defense and
Veterans Health Administration both choose CPT (and PE) as their preferred form of treatment
in military personnel both active and inactive.
Baker et al. (2018) provide support that unconventional methods of treatment do not do a
good job in helping to reduce symptoms and successfully treat PTSD. All the different studies
conducted for the different creative arts therapies showed very low support in reducing the
symptoms, and so therefore would not be very effective in treating veterans PTSD. Though Vets
Prevail is an unconventional treatment method, being an internet-based therapy platform, it is
CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 8
interesting to note that it is effective in helping treat veterans symptoms of PTSD and its success
could be the fact that the type of treatment used is cognitive behavioral based.
Conclusion
In conclusion, conventional treatment methods should be used and sought after as the
first form of treatment for PTSD in veterans, when compared to the option of unconventional
treatment methods. Most importantly CBT treatment methods like CPT should be used to help
treat PTSD in veterans (Pomerantz, 2017; Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg, 2006). CBT should be
used because they are highly effective in helping to reduce the symptoms of CBT in veterans
(Pomerantz, 2017; Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg, 2006). Many people would much rather choose
conventional treatment methods (like CBT and PE to name a few) over unconventional treatment
methods to help treat their PTSD (Tarrier, Liversidge & Gregg, 2006). Many people/groups like
the Department of Defense and Veterans Health Affairs choose conventional treatment methods
to help effectively treat PTSD (Pomerantz, 2017). Overall it is important that those diagnosed
with PTSD take action and treat their PTSD, but that they choose treatments that actually are
proven to be effective such as conventional treatment methods like CBT.
CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 9
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Cognitive processing therapy (CPT). American
Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ptsd-
guideline/treatments/cognitive-processing-therapy
Baker, F. A., Metcalf, O., Varker, T. & ODonnell, M. (2018). A systematic review of the
efficacy of creative arts therapies in the treatment of adults with PTSD. Psychological
Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy,10(6), 643-651.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000353
Hobfoll, S. E., Blais, R. K., Stevens, N. R., Walt, L., & Gengler, R. (2016). Vets prevail online
intervention reduces PTSD and depression in veterans with mild-to-moderate symptoms.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(1), 3142.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000041
Mayo Clinic. (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-
disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
National Veterans Foundation. (2015). The far-reaching effects of PTSD in Veterans. National
Veterans Foundation. Retrieved from https://nvf.org/effects-of-ptsd-in-veterans/
Pomerantz, A. S. (2017). Treating PTSD in primary care: One small step is one giant leap.
Families, Systems, & Health, 35(4), 505-507. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000318
Tarrier, N., Liversidge, T. & Gregg, L. (2006). The acceptability and preference for the
psychological treatment of PTSD. Behavior Research and Therapy, 44, 1643-1656.
doi:10.1016/j.brat.2005.11.012
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CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS 10
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