Credit- RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-veterans-sitting-on-a-chair-7468259/
Jenny Liu, the head of scientific development and knowledge mobilization at the McDonald Franklin OSI Research Center, and her team recently built a research project focused on developing what she refers to as a PTSD treatment algorithm.
“One of the main findings from our review was that medications for treating PTSD are just as effective as psychotherapies in treating PTSD.
In previous clinical guidelines, there’s been a strong push for evidence-informed psychotherapies over medications.” Liu explains. “That’s again with all the evidence in all populations, not just veterans and military populations. But what’s unique about veterans and military populations is the comorbid conditions, physical and mental.”
“It’s the fact that sometimes those complex PTSDs make it difficult for them to participate in psychotherapy, but at the same time, they’ve heard that psychotherapy is more effective than medications,” said Liu.
“So, when you’re treating them and you say, ‘Hey, I have these medications that might address some of your symptoms, and it might help you increase your function.’ They’re sometimes hesitant to take medication, or they’re sometimes concerned they want to have psychotherapy over medication.”
“One of the other main findings is that not only are psychotherapies and medications similarly effective, which would allow clinicians and patients to have more options, we’re also finding that when you combine them, you’re also getting a boost of efficacy,” Liu said when asked about the results of the study.
Credit-Jenny Liu
This research team conducted a review of all the evidence available on treating PTSD across different military and veteran populations. This included studies beyond just randomized control trials, which are typically used for most clinical guidelines.
“We set out to actually be much more inclusive in the reviews of studies by including more than just randomized control trials, but looking at all of the evidence in treating PTSD across all different types of military and veteran populations,” said Liu.
This project was first started in 2020 by a group of clinical researchers, including the former clinical director of the London OSI operational stress injury clinic.
“So operational stress injury clinics are scattered all over Canada, and they’re funded directly by Veteran Affairs Canada to support veterans in their mental health,” said Liu.
