These resources do not represent a shortcut way of getting personal medical advice or a medical consultation about any condition. Always make decisions about diagnosis and treatment in consultation with a trusted health care practitioner.

General Information about PTSD

National Center for PTSD – The website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD shares information for veterans, their families and friends, and the general public. Resources include videos from other veterans who have experienced PTSD, a guide to helpful mobile applications, and an online PTSD coach. The site also includes information for researchers and health care providers, such as an index of the professional research literature, a directory for manuals and videos, and assessment tools.

American Psychological Association – The American Psychological Association, an organization with a scientific and professional focus for psychologists in the United States, provides the latest news about PTSD on its website, along with information on ways for people with PTSD and their friends and family members to get help, such as how to find a therapist and how to choose between multiple treatment options.

American Psychiatric Association – The American Psychiatric Association, an organization that works with psychiatrists to ensure that patients are well cared for and effectively treated, details symptoms and diagnostic information, as well as treatment modalities, on its PTSD site.

National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) – The NIMH is the foremost U.S. agency funding research on mental illness. Its PTSD site overviews the condition, details the signs and symptoms of PTSD, outlines the risk factors for PTSD, and describes treatment options. It also provides information about joining research studies about PTSD.

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) – The ISTSS provides educational materials that help people and communities facing traumatic events.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – NICE provides information for the general public about treating PTSD in adults and children.

Information about PTSD Treatment Options

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) – PE is a method of therapy developed by Edna Foa, PhD, to help people with PTSD process traumatic events and reduce the symptoms of PTSD. This site describes the therapy in detail and provides information on outpatient and in-patient options for therapy. It also has links for professional training for health care providers.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) – CPT helps people with PTSD understand the relationship between traumatic experiences and thoughts and to consider ways that thought patterns might affect symptoms and recovery. This website provides CPT resources for patients and training information for health care providers.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) – EMDR is a psychotherapy treatment that helps people with PTSD process their traumatic memories in a way that lessens the distress the memories cause. This site describes the treatment in session-by-session details for patients, for example, and provides clinicians with resources and training opportunities.

Mayo Clinic provides resources for patients on its website for PTSD therapies and medications. It also has helpful information on preparing for appointments with health care providers.

WebMD lists common medications prescribed for treating PTSD and includes user reviews for patients to consider.