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The Committee on Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
**ANNOUNCEMENT**
“Treatment of PTSD: An Assessment of the Evidence" a report from the Institute of Medicine, will be released on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 11 a.m. EDT.
Upon release, the report and news release will be available here and at http://nationalacademies.org/
Statement of Task
I. The Department of Veterans Affairs has asked the IOM to convene a new committee to review the literature on various treatment modalities (including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy) and treatment goals for individuals with PTSD.
II. Specifically, the committee will conduct an evidence-based review on best treatment practices, and types and timing of specific interventions, and comment on the prognosis of individuals diagnosed with PTSD (and existing co-morbidities). As part of its assessment, the IOM committee shall:
A) Develop descriptive evidence tables including: type of study and identify potential bias and generalizations of the study. The committee shall also search for and classify systematic and narrative reviews on the topic of treatment and recovery of individuals with PTSD.
B) The committee shall examine and classify the existing studies on various treatment modalities for PTSD. The committee will report on the highest levels of evidence available. For each study the committee will consider the quality of design and execution, and will be guided by the following classification:
I - Randomized controlled trial
II-1 - Controlled trial without randomization
II-2 - Cohort or case-control study
II-3 - Time series or uncontrolled experiment
III - Opinion of respected authority, case report and expert committee
C) The committee shall consider the following framework to make conclusions about the strength of the available evidence for treatment modalities:
1) Evidence is sufficient to conclude the efficacy of X in the treatment of PTSD. (A qualifier of magnitude may be added if appropriate.)
2) Evidence is suggestive but not sufficient to conclude of efficacy X in the treatment of PTSD. (The committee may note inconsistencies in the data.)
3) Evidence is inadequate to determine the efficacy of X in the treatment of PTSD
4) Evidence is suggestive that X treatment is ineffective in treating PTSD
5) Evidence is suggestive that X treatment is harmful in the treatment of PTSD.
D) For each of the conclusions above, the restriction of the conclusion regarding the population, provider, setting intervention or comparator intervention will be noted.
III. As part of its assessment, the IOM committee shall note limitations in the evidence base and make suggestions for further research that could strengthen the evidence or address research gaps in the treatment of PTSD.
IV. In conducting its work, the committee shall consider the following questions in relation to treatment modalities (including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy) and treatment goals for individuals diagnosed with PTSD.
A) What are the goals of PTSD treatment?
• What is the definition of “recovery”?
• For what proportion of patients is recovery possible?
• Besides recovery, what other outcomes would benefit patients?
B) Does evidence support the value of early intervention?
C) How long should treatment continue?
• What is the impact of a hiatus in treatment?
• What is the impact of periodic re-examination for asymptomatic patients?
V. The committee shall note when the evidence base does not allow for responding to these questions due to insufficient research attention or poorly conducted studies.
There has been a modification in the Statement of Task. Sections II.B.-II.D. have been revised for greater clarity (7/6/07).
To view the biographies of the committee, click here.
To view the committee and IOM staff roster, click here.
Meetings
Meeting One was held on January 16, 2007. Click here for more information.
Meeting Two was held on February 26-27, 2007 and was closed in its entirety.
Meeting Three was held on April 16-17, 2007 and was closed in its entirety.
Meeting Four was held on June 25-26, 2007 and was closed in its entirety.
Meeting Five was held on September 4, 2007 and was closed in its entirety.
Quick Links
To Subscribe to the PTSD Treatment Project Listserv, please click here.
To Unsubscribe from the PTSD Treatment Project Listserv, please click here.
The listserv will send 1-3 announcements per month about committee activities for the duration of the project.
Please note: any comments that you submit to the committee, including your name and identifying information, will not be kept confidential and will be included in a Public Access File as the National Academy of Sciences complies with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The National Academies shall be authorized to use any such comments or submissions in accordance with the National Academies Terms of Use Statement.
Study Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
Institute of Medicine
Keck Center, 8th Floor
Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Committee on Treatment of PTSD
500 5th Street, NW
Washington DC, 20001
E-mail: PTSDtreatment@nas.edu
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