PTSD: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Emerging Therapies

At the conclusion of this activity, the participants should be better able to:

1. Review the prevalence, development and course, functional consequences, and comorbidities of PTSD.
2. Identify challenges in the evaluation and diagnosis of PTSD and complex PTSD.
3. Describe current evidence-based psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatments, as well as future directions in mental health care.
4. Discuss measurement issues in the assessment and management of PTSD.

This accredited continuing education activity is designed for physicians, PhD researchers, advanced practice providers, psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, and nurses who are involved in the care of patients with PTSD.

In support of improving patient care, University of Nebraska Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

The University of Nebraska Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses

The University of Nebraska Medical Center designates this activity for 6.0 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit for the actual time spent participating in the activity.

Psychologists/Licensed Mental Health Providers

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. This activity has been approved for 6.0 credit hours of continuing education credit. 

Read the UNMC CCE Disclosure Declaration Policy 

Disclosures

The accredited provider has mitigated and is disclosing identified relevant financial relationships for the following faculty, planners, and others in control of content prior to assuming their roles.

FACULTY

The following have disclosed relevant financial relationships:

• Lauren Edwards, MD
  Individual Stockholder: Bristol Myers Squibb Company; Pfizer, Inc.
• Alan L. Peterson, PhD, ABPP
  INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURES
  Discussion of investigational/experimental use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine hydrochloride (MDMA), cannabidiol (CBD), IR-TMS, and tDCS in PTSD
• Matthew Rizzo, MD, FAAN, FANA*
  INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURES
  Study recruitment for CBD (Nantheia™ ATL5) for use in treatment of PTSD
• Christopher Shaffer, PharmD, PhD, MS
  Research Funding: National Institute of Mental Health

The following faculty members have nothing to disclose:

• Jennifer Urbano Blackford, PhD
• Frank Weathers, PhD
• Justin Weeks, PhD*

PLANNING COMMITTEE

The following have disclosed relevant financial relationships:

• Brigette Soltis-Vaughan, MSN, APRN-BC, NP
  INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURES
  Off-label drug discussion of cannabidiol (CBD) for investigational use in PTSD
  
• Elizabeth Vlock, MS
  INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURES
  Study recruitment for CBD (Nantheia™ ATL5) for use in treatment of PTSD

The following have nothing to disclose:

• Cece Abbey-Webben, MS
• Valeta Creason-Wahl, MMP
• Zoe Feilner, MPAS, PA-C
• Shari Griffin
• Heidi Keeler, PhD, MSN/MBA, RN
• Renee Paulin, MSN, RN, CWOCN
• Brenda Ram, CMP, CHCP
• Shannan Wilson, RRT

*Faculty and planning committee member

The following materials (in PDF) are available for download until June 26, 2025. No part of these materials may be reproduced without prior written permission.

• The Complexity of the PTSD Diagnosis: What to Know
  Lauren Edwards, MD
• An Overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: Efficacy and Techniques for PTSD
  Justin Weeks, PhD
• PTSD in Veterans
  Frank Weathers, PhD
• Prolonged Exposure for Combat-Related PTSD: 20 Years of Progress 
  Alan L. Peterson, PhD, ABPP

• New Frontiers in the Treatment of PTSD
  Christopher Shaffer, PharmD, PhD, MS
• Fear and Anxiety: Neural Circuits in PTSD
  Jennifer Urbano Blackford, PhD