From the Guidelines
Yes, PTSD can resurface from an event that occurred 10 years ago, especially when triggered by current life changes or situations that remind you of the original trauma. This reactivation happens because traumatic memories are stored differently in the brain and can remain potent over time.
Effective Treatment Options
When it comes to treating resurfaced PTSD, several options are available.
- Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing psychotherapy are recommended over pharmacotherapy, as stated in the 2023 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense clinical practice guideline 1.
- Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is also an effective treatment option, as it helps individuals identify, experience, accept, and transform difficult emotions related to trauma.
- Medications such as paroxetine, sertraline, or venlafaxine may be used when symptoms are severe.
Importance of Early Intervention
If you're experiencing resurfaced PTSD symptoms, seeking help promptly from a mental health professional who specializes in trauma is crucial, as early intervention typically leads to better outcomes 1.
Key Considerations
- The use of benzodiazepines, cannabis, or cannabis-derived products is not recommended for treating PTSD, as stated in the clinical practice guideline 1.
- Secure video teleconferencing can be used to deliver recommended psychotherapy when validated for use with video teleconferencing or when other options are unavailable 1.
From the Research
PTSD Resurfacing from Past Events
- PTSD can resurface from an event 10 years ago due to life changes and triggers, as the condition is characterized by symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and marked alterations in arousal and reactivity following exposure to a traumatic event 2.
- The risk of PTSD resurfacing can be increased by various factors, including ongoing threat of reexposure to trauma, which can limit the effectiveness of treatment 3.
Emotion Focused Therapy for PTSD
- Emotion Focused Therapy, also known as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), is an evidence-based method that combines acupressure with elements drawn from cognitive and exposure therapies, and has been validated in over 100 clinical trials 4.
- EFT has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD, with treatment effects that exceed those of both psychopharmacology and conventional psychotherapy, and can be adapted to online and telemedicine applications 4, 5.
- A stepped-care model is recommended for EFT treatment of PTSD, with 5-10 sessions for subclinical and clinical PTSD, respectively, and escalation to intensive psychotherapy or psychopharmacology for nonresponsive patients 4, 5.
Treatment Outcomes and Challenges
- While EFT and other trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapies have been shown to be effective in treating PTSD, there are challenges in accessing evidence-based treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries 6.
- Only two-thirds of PTSD patients respond adequately to trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, and identifying processes to overcome barriers to better management of PTSD remains an outstanding challenge 6.