About this tool and your privacy
You may be wondering more about this tool, and how your information is being used.
Is my information private?
Yes, it is. The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is made so that the information you enter into the tool is available as you move through the decision aid. Once you close the decision aid, this information is deleted. That's why we give you the option to print or save your personal summary. None of the information you enter will be stored on this site or shared.
Some anonymous information is collected automatically, however. For example, the date and time of your visit, the operating system you used to access the site, and the Internet domain from which you connected to the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid are all collected automatically. This information is used only to help us make the site better for visitors. It is not used to identify you personally. Please see the VA privacy policy for a list of information that is collected automatically.
Who created the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid?
This website was funded by the Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD. The content was developed by a team of clinical psychologists and education specialists at the National Center for PTSD with expertise in PTSD treatment, mental health, and shared decision-making. The developers of the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid and their affiliated institutions do not stand to gain or lose anything based on the choices people make after using the decision aid.
Were clinicians and people with PTSD involved in creating the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid?
Yes. The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid has gone through several revisions, with each revision led by psychologists and educational specialists at the National Center for PTSD. Input has been gathered from two national surveys of Veterans and civilians with PTSD, along with interviews with patients, Veterans, and clinicians. We would also like to thank many clinicians and Veterans for contributing to the videos in this decision aid.
People with PTSD were involved in creating the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid in several ways. First, we asked a panel of Veterans—some with PTSD—for their opinions on how to update the prior decision aid. Second, we included Veterans with PTSD on an expert panel that advised on multiple revisions of this decision aid. Third, we conducted usability testing on each major version of the decision aid with both Veterans and civilians with PTSD. Finally, clinicians and patients at one Veterans Affairs hospital used versions of the decision aid and gave us feedback. Each of these steps provided feedback that shaped the current PTSD Treatment Decision Aid.
How did we decide which treatments to include in the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid?
Treatments in the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid are recommended in the 2023 PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline published by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD). The workgroup for that guideline reviewed all relevant research using the GRADE approach, a rigorous methodology for assessing the strength of the treatment evidence. The workgroup found that the positive effects of these treatments outweigh the risks. For more information see the clinical practice guideline.
Disclaimer
The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is not a substitute for medical care or advice from a clinician. Only a licensed professional can diagnose PTSD. The National Center for PTSD does not provide direct clinical care.
Target audience
The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid was developed for use by people who have been diagnosed with PTSD, those who suspect they may have PTSD, and family and friends of loved ones with PTSD symptoms. The decision aid, except for content specific to clinicians, is written in plain language, with an overall Flesch-Kincaid readability score of 7.7.
Release date and planned updates
The initial version of the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid was released in April 2017 and updated in June 2017 to reflect changes to the 2017 PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline published by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. A substantially updated version was released in August 2025 to reflect the updated 2023 VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline. Major updates will be conducted when future VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines are released.
Comments?
If you would like to provide feedback on the decision aid, please contact NCPTSD@va.gov
