With some studies suggesting that 6 to 10 percent of primary care patients are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, consideration should be given to the role of primary care providers in PTSD diagnosis, according to an Advance Healthcare Network article.
Here are four things to know about PTSD and the potential for diagnosis at the primary care level.
1. PTSD is the most undertreated anxiety disorder in primary care settings, according to Advance. Despite being in a unique position to diagnose the problem in the acute phase, which could facilitate early treatment for the condition, primary care providers often lack the resources necessary to properly identify and treat PTSD.
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2. Though providers focus on veterans and victims of violent crime as the populations most appropriate for PTSD screening, there is growing evidence to suggest that the disorder is widespread among the general population. A study performed in an urban outpatient clinic and published in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery screened for PTSD in patients that had been exposed to a trauma. Forty-two percent of the patients screened positive for PTSD.
3. According to Advance, PTSD can be detected with a screening involving yes/no questions. Once PTSD is discovered in a patient, the primary care provider can make a referral for cognitive-behavioral therapy and assess the patient for the potential physical comorbidities like smoking and substance abuse that often accompany the disorder.
4. PTSD's significant impact on community health could potentially be lessened if primary care were to incorporate PTSD screening on a routine basis, suggests the article in Advance.
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