Diagnostics and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder Recommendations of the new S3 guidelines

The latest revision of the guidelines on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany contains 15 recommendations on the diagnostics and treatment in adults. Of central importance are trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. The effects of nontrauma-focused stabilizing procedures are not comparable to those of trauma-focused approaches. Similarly, pharmacotherapy is not an equally effective alternative to trauma-focused psychotherapy. Adjuvant procedures, such as endurance sports or biofeedback, can be of additional benefit. In the new ICD 11 diagnosis complex PTSD, interventions to improve emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships should be added in the treatment of patients. Comorbidities such as substance use disorders or psychotic syndromes are not a contraindication for trauma-focused approaches if they do not compromise patients' behavioral control.