From the Guidelines
Full remission from PTSD is achieved when a person no longer experiences significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and has returned to their pre-trauma level of functioning, which can be attained through comprehensive treatment, including trauma-focused psychotherapies and medication, as recommended by the 2023 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense clinical practice guideline 1.
Key Components of Full Remission
- Absence of intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, hypervigilance, and negative mood or thought patterns related to the trauma
- Return to pre-trauma level of functioning
- Symptoms no longer significantly impair daily functioning
Treatment Options
- Trauma-focused psychotherapies:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Medication:
- SSRIs like sertraline (50-200mg daily) or paroxetine (20-60mg daily)
Important Considerations
- Recovery is often gradual, with periods of improvement and occasional setbacks
- Regular follow-up care and maintenance strategies like stress management techniques help sustain remission long-term
- The 2023 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense clinical practice guideline recommends against the use of benzodiazepines, cannabis, or cannabis-derived products for PTSD treatment 1
- Brief CBT, starting approximately 2 weeks after the trauma, has been shown to speed the rate of recovery in women victims of sexual and nonsexual assault who meet symptom criteria for PTSD, and prevent the development of chronic PTSD in accident survivors and assault victims with acute stress disorder 1
From the Research
Definition of Full Remission from PTSD
Full remission from PTSD refers to a state where an individual no longer experiences significant symptoms of the disorder.
Characteristics of Full Remission
- The individual no longer meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD 2, 3
- There is a significant reduction in symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors 4, 5
- The individual is able to function normally in daily life without significant impairment 6
Treatment Options for Achieving Full Remission
- Trauma-focused psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) 3, 6
- Pharmacological treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-potentiating non-SSRIs 2, 4, 5
- Combination of psychological and pharmacological treatments 3, 6