Dr. Laura Watkins, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine, introduces us to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We walk though the diagnostic criteria and discuss how these symptoms can impact a person's day-to-day life. We then learn to conceptualize PTSD in terms of both classical and operant conditioning. Finally, we explain evidence based psychotherapies for PTSD and conclude with a primer on psychopharmacology for PTSD.

Essential references:

1) Osser Psychopharmacology Algorithm for PTSD

2) Clinical Guidelines for PTSD (United States Department of Veteran's Affairs and Department of Defense)

3) This American Life: Ten Sessions