Co-Occurring Problems

PTSD often co-occurs with other mental health problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and TBI. Below learn more about treating these co-occurring conditions. VA Providers can also see the provider section of VA Mental Health website.

Suicide

• The Relationship Between PTSD and Suicide
  This fact sheet explores the relation between PTSD and suicide. It offers providers information about risk factors and reasons for suicide as well as dealing with suicide.
• Assessing and Responding to Suicidal Intent: A Fact Sheet for Providers (PDF)
  Exposure to neglect, violence, homelessness, abuse or poverty may encourage suicidal intent.

Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

• Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
  This PTSD 101 online course reviews the VA/DoD 2012 clinical practice guideline recommendations for managing substance use disorders and PTSD through psychotherapy and pharmacology.
• Smoking Cessation
  This PTSD 101 course describes the rationale and evidence for integrating smoking cessation into PTSD treatment. Overview of psychological and pharmacological interventions.
• Report of Consensus Conference: Practice Recommendations for Treatment of Veterans with Comorbid Substance Use Disorder and PTSD (PDF)
  Recommendations from multidisciplinary workgroup. This PDF file may be printed and used as a handout.
• Disasters and Substance Abuse or Dependence
  Reviews research on substance use, abuse, and dependence following disasters.
• VA Substance Abuse Program Locator
  Link for the VA web-based Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program Locator.

Traumatic Brain Injury

• Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD
  Background information about traumatic brain injury and how it relates to PTSD. Implications for diagnosis and treatment.
• Traumatic Brain Injury
  This PTSD 101 course outlines the neuropsychiatry of TBI. Reviews the types of TBI, common functioning deficits, the relationship between PTSD and TBI, assessment and treatment.
• Report of Consensus Conference: Practice Recommendations for Treatment of Veterans with Comorbid TBI, Pain, and PTSD (PDF)
  Consensus statement from multidisciplinary workgroup with recommendations to guide clinical practice for Veterans suffering from co-occuring PTSD, history of mTBI, and pain.

Other Reactions to Trauma

• Anger, Aggression and PTSD
  This PTSD 101 online course provides an overview of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for anger and PTSD, including a review of the prevalence of anger and aggression in patients with PTSD.
• Moral Injury in the Context of War
  Describes moral injury and its aftermath in the context of war. Explains the relationship between moral injury and PTSD and presents treatment implications.
• Traumatic Grief: Symptomatology and Treatment for the Iraq War Veteran
  Describes traumatic grief and distinguishes between normal and pathological grief. Discusses the assessment and treatment of acute and complicated grief in returning Iraq war veterans.
• Managing Grief after Disaster
  Clinical advice regarding managing grief after a disaster, including addressing traumatic grief, complications of bereavement, and risk factors.

Physical Health Conditions

• PTSD and Physical Health
  Provides information on the relationships between trauma, PTSD, and physical health; specific health problems associated with PTSD; health-risk behaviors and PTSD, and more.
• Physical Health Effects
  This PTSD 101 course discusses research findings from both civilian and military populations illustrating how a person's reaction mediates the effect of exposure.
• The Experience of Chronic Pain and PTSD: A Guide for Health Care Providers
  Discusses chronic pain and how it may be related to trauma and PTSD. Includes recommendations for health care providers on handling chronic pain and assessing for trauma.
• PTSD and Chronic Pain
  This PTSD 101 online course describes in detail the interaction between PTSD symptoms and chronic pain, with a special focus on Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. Reviews the VA/DoD 2010 guideline recommendations for treating pain and PTSD and discusses useful treatment approaches.

Sleep Problems

• Sleep Problems, Insomnia, and PTSD
  This PTSD 101 online course reviews the VA/DoD 2010 clinical practice guideline recommendations for treating sleep problems, insomnia, and PTSD. Describes general treatment approach as well as evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions.
• Nightmares and PTSD: Research Review
  Provides information on prevalence and characteristics of posttraumatic nightmares, cultural issues, and effective treatments.