What Do You Treat First: Depression or PTSD?

Treatment of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder generally begin at the same time with antidepressant therapy. Chemical imbalance plays a significant role in both debilitating conditions. Correcting biochemical factors with medication should be the first priority in PTSD recovery, followed by psychotherapy.

Biochemistry

• The U.S. National Library of Medicine links PTSD to imbalances of norepinephrine and serotonin, chemicals also found to be disrupted in major depression.

Priority

• The National Guideline Clearinghouse recommends that health care providers use medication to treat the chemical components of PTSD prior to initiating psychotherapy.

Medications

• The National Institute of Mental Health reports that Zoloft and Paxil, medications commonly used to treat depression, are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PTSD.

Psychotherapy

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness advises sufferers of PTSD to access psychotherapy as part of the recovery process.

Comorbidity

• The Society of General Internal Medicine reports the rate of individuals suffering both PTSD and depression is higher than initially suspected, and such individuals experience more severe symptoms and slower recovery.