Another WHO News Release:

Warnings to Primary Health Care Providers about popular treatments for PTSD: 

Primary health care staff are also warned against certain popular treatments (for PTSD). For example, benzodiazepines, which are anti-anxiety drugs, should not be offered to reduce acute traumatic stress symptoms or sleep problems in the first month after a potentially traumatic event. 

“PTSD needs to be managed along with other common mental disorders” reports Dr. Mark van Ommeren, Scientist in the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. “This new, simple WHO treatment protocol (with regards to primary care givers offering basic support) will guide health workers around the world to help adults and children who suffer from conditions specifically related to stress”. The new guidelines and protocol were published today in an article in “The journal of the American Medical Association”. 

For more information please contact: 

Daniel Epstein Communications Officer WHO, Geneva Telephone: +41 22 791 4458 Mobile: +41 79 475 5536 E-mail: epsteind@who.int