What the National Center for PTSD Has to Offer

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has created the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) online. The National Center for PTSD offers information and help, not just for veterans with PTSD, but for anyone with PTSD. Both healthcare professionals and the public can benefit from the information available on the National Center for PTSD website.

Public Section on the National Center for PTSD Website

For those with PTSD or for those who know someone with PTSD, this section can offer information on what PTSD is, what causes PTSD, how to cope with PTSD and treatments for PTSD. 

Other useful parts of the public sections of the National Center for PTSD website include:

• A section called AboutFace where veterans who have PTSD talk about their own experiences with PTSD, PTSD issues and PTSD treatment via video. Clinicians and family members also provide videos in this section from their perspectives.
• A section on self-help and coping with PTSD called PTSD Coach Online is also available. Topics in this section include self-care, lifestyle changes, mindfulness, peer support groups and many others.
• If you are a veteran returning from war or are the loved one of a veteran returning from war, you may wish to check out Returning from the War Zone, a section of the website for veterans and their families.

Treatment Centers for PTSD

The National Center for PTSD has suggestions for finding help with PTSD. See Where to Get Help for PTSD for information on PTSD treatment centers, PTSD therapists and Vet Centers that can offer PTSD help for veterans.

Mobile Apps Recommended by the National Center for PTSD

The National Center for PTSD offers a section recommending various mobile applications, some made by the VA, some not.

Self-help apps include:

• PTSD Coach -- this app can help you learn about and cope with the symptoms of PTSD.
• Mindfulness Coach – this app can help you ground yourself in the present moment which can help you better cope with unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

Treatment-related apps include:

• CPT Coach – this app can help you with the cognitive processing therapy that you may be doing through a healthcare provider.
• PE Coach – this app is designed to augment prolonged exposure therapy – a common therapy for those with PTSD.

Other related mobile apps are also listed which can help with the presence of concussions, parenting, quitting smoking and other issues.

Professional Section on the National Center for PTSD Website

In addition to the above sections which focus on information for the public with PTSD and their family members, the National Center for PTSD website also offers resources for professionals. While this section is designed for healthcare providers, some of the information may be useful for people with PTSD who are not professionals as well.

Sections on the National Center for PTSD website for professionals include:

• Access to the PILOTS database, a worldwide index to literature on PTSD.
• Information on the assessment of PTSD including screenings for trauma.

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