---
type: Condition
title: PTSD
description: Post-traumatic stress disorder as evaluated and treated by CARMAhealth with SSRI medication management, ketamine therapy, TMS, and psychotherapy referral.
resource: https://carmahealth.com/conditions/ptsd
tags: [carmahealth, condition, ptsd, trauma, psychiatry]
timestamp: 2026-07-08T20:00:00Z
---

# PTSD

Condition profile within the [CARMAhealth](../carmahealth.md) bundle. Facts below are drawn from the provider's own condition page, retrieved 2026-07-08.

## How CARMAhealth describes it

CARMAhealth frames PTSD as the mind and body remaining in a heightened state of alert after a traumatic event — a nervous-system response, not weakness. Symptoms are grouped into four categories: intrusive memories (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood (hopelessness, emotional numbness), and changes in physical/emotional reactions (startle response, sleep trouble, irritability). Symptoms typically begin within three months of trauma but can appear later, and without treatment can persist for months to decades. The page notes PTSD frequently co-occurs with [depression](./depression.md) and [anxiety](./anxiety.md), and that the practitioner addresses the full picture rather than each condition in isolation.

## Screening / evaluation approach

Treatment begins with a [psychiatric evaluation](../services/psychiatric-evaluation.md) covering history, symptoms, co-occurring conditions, and goals. The site advises evaluation when symptoms have persisted for more than a month.

## Treatment options offered

- [Medication management](../services/medication-management.md) — first-line SSRI medications (sertraline and paroxetine named) monitored by a board-certified psychiatrist.
- [Ketamine therapy](../services/ketamine-therapy.md) — intramuscular ketamine in conjunction with psychotherapy, described by the site as a potentially powerful tool to facilitate processing and resolution of trauma.
- [TMS therapy](../services/tms-therapy.md) — described as an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation option.
- Psychotherapy referral — the page describes trauma-focused psychotherapy as a first-line approach (per APA guidance it cites) offered via referral; CARMAhealth itself is psychiatry-led.

## Claims noted (attributed)

- The site states, citing NIMH, that approximately 3.6% of U.S. adults experience PTSD in a given year, about 6 in 100 people develop it in their lifetime, women are nearly three times more likely to be affected, and over a third of those with PTSD experience serious functional impairment.
- The site states, citing the American Psychological Association, that trauma-focused psychotherapy is recommended first-line alongside SSRIs such as sertraline and paroxetine.
- The site states clinical research shows ketamine can produce rapid, significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, while acknowledging ketamine is not yet FDA-approved specifically for PTSD; it describes use under qualified medical supervision for patients not responding to standard treatments.
- The site states most insurance plans cover psychiatric evaluation and medication management for PTSD; coverage for ketamine therapy and TMS varies by plan.
- The site states PTSD treatment plans are developed and supervised by a board-certified psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.

## Sources

- Live page: https://carmahealth.com/conditions/ptsd — Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- Mirror: https://mr.carmahealth.com/conditions/ptsd — Retrieved 2026-07-08.