Development of a Practice Tool for Primary Care Providers: Medication Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

AbstractPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are highly prevalent in veterans who served in Iraq [Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn] and Afghanistan [Operation Enduring Freedom]. Complicated psychotropic medications are used for treatment of PTSD and comorbid mTBI symptoms lead to polypharmacy related complications. Primary care providers (PCPs) working in Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) are usually burdened with the responsibility of managing this complicated medication regimen or relevant side effects. The PCPs do not feel equipped to provide this complicated psychopharmacological management. Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive yet concise tool for the medication management of PTSD in veterans with comorbid mTBI. (1) To conduct focus groups of interdisciplinary team of experts and other stake holders to assess need, (2) To carefully review current VA/Department of Defense practice guideline to identify content, (3) To develop an evidence based, user friendly, and concise pocket guide for the PCP ’s. Content was identified by review of current guidelines and available literature and was finalized after input from stakeholders, multidisciplinary team of experts, and review of qualitative data from focus groups/interviews of clinicians working in remote CBOCs. The pocket tool was formatted a nd designed by multimedia service. A pocket guide in the form of a bi-fold, 4″ × 5.5″ laminated card was de...
Source: Psychiatric Quarterly - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research