https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/170LtHHlYBy3Z9d5UK1jxS8lYCq-hwqlY/edit#slide=id.p1There are around 10,000 individuals in Buncombe county who live with PTSD. This study is designed to investigate how these individuals are being assessed, diagnosed, and treated within the wider health system. By understanding who these individuals with PTSD are, who they are seeing regarding their mental and behavioral health, and how they are being treated, this study intends to identify ways to provide better screening and treatment to those who suffer from PTSD. To obtain this data, random samplings were taken of mental health providers in Buncombe county. These included group mental health practices, individual therapists, and psychiatrists. Participants were contacted with a questionnaire asking for information on how they assess for PTSD, how they treat PTSD, and whether they refer patients to outside providers for specialized care. Preliminary results indicate that 100% of providers are performing some sort of screening at intake, but that only 12.5% are actually performing formal assessments for PTSD. Formal assessments include the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Providers report using a number of different treatments, but only 25% of providers reported using evidence-based therapies. These included Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. The other 75% of PTSD treatments included up to 13 other forms, none of which had any evidence to show effectiveness in treating PTSD. Therefore, these results indicate that the vast majority of those suffering from PTSD in Buncombe County are not getting evidence-based therapies. This study emphasizes the need for wider use of research-based treatments for those who suffer from trauma and PTSD in our community.
