Complementary and Alternative Medicine for PTSD

The number of individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder has increased in the past decade, not only in the military and veteran population but within the civilian population as well. Traditional treatments such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have provided less-than-ideal results proving to be less effective when used alone to treat the disorder.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for PTSD supplements these traditional treatments, using new and effective techniques to fill the therapeutic void. The alternative therapies covered include acceptance and commitment therapy, acupuncture, alternative pharmacology, canine assistive therapy, family focused interventions, internet and computer-based therapy, meditation techniques, mobile applications, recreational therapy, resilience training, transracial magnetic stimulation, virtual reality exposure therapy, and yoga. Each chapter delivers the most up-to-date understanding of neurobiology, best practices, and key points for clinicians and patients considering inclusion of these treatments in patient care.

Drs. David Benedek and Gary Wynn offer insight into the future of complementary and alternative medicine, shining a light onto how these techniques fit into clinical practice to create the most beneficial treatments for the patient. This book is both an essential resource and practical guide to everyday clinical interactions. It is a necessary addition to the medical library for students and senior clinicians alike.

David Benedek, MD has served as Professor and Deputy Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and a Senior Scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He has recently assumed duties Chief of Forensics and Director of the Center for Forensic Behavioral Sciences at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His clinical and research interests have ranged from disaster preparedness and response and management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder to understanding and predicting violent behavior.

Gary Wynn, MD is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry and Scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Wynn's career has focused on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and improving treatments for our men and women returning home from combat. His efforts have included investigations of non-traditional methods to palliate the suffering experienced upon return from deployment.