PTSD Series for Professionals: Part 1

The DBT-Prolonged Exposure Protocol: New Approach for the Treatment of PTSD and Complex Comorbidities (1.5 Credits)

Presenters: Andrea Stone, Psy.D. and Jenni Schaefer

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occurs with other psychiatric disorders. In fact, 66% of individuals with PTSD have two or more comorbid disorders, including substance use and personality disorders, and up to 30% attempt suicide. Due to the commonly held belief that these patients are incapable of learning the behavior control skills necessary to maintain safety during PTSD treatment, this complex group is often excluded from receiving targeted help like Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), which is the most empirically supported treatment for PTSD. Moreover, treatments designed specifically for these multi-diagnostic individuals such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) typically only indirectly address PTSD by focusing on minimizing the disabling symptoms. Fortunately, the new DBT-PE protocol allows clinicians to directly treat both PTSD as well as complex comorbidities in this high-risk population.

The first workshop in this cutting-edge series will provide an overview of PTSD as well as common complex comorbidities like borderline personality disorder. Myths about treating high-risk patients will be dispelled. In fact, a live case study will be utilized to show an example of recovery from PTSD and complex comorbidities, including anorexia nervosa, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. The four modules of DBT—mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—will be discussed as a tool for reducing high-risk behaviors in trauma treatment. This unique workshop will combine clinical and research perspectives with a recovered patient’s experience.

Register for the online event here.

Schedule