The NICE Guidelines for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder recommend that:
 

• PTSD can develop in people of any age following a stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature
   
• Symptoms often develop immediately after the traumatic event but the onset of symptoms may be delayed in some people
   
• PTSD is treatable even when problems present many years after the event
   
• Treatment for PTSD should not start until 4 weeks after the trauma, although support and information can be offered within these early weeks
   
• Single session interventions (often called debriefing) that focus on the traumatic incident should not be offered to that individual alone
   
• When symptoms are present 8-12 sessions of trauma-focussed PTSD should be offered, regardless of the time elapsed since the trauma
   
• Non-trauma-focussed interventions such as relaxation or non-directive therapy should not be routinely offered
   
• The impact of the traumatic event on all family members should be assessed and appropriate support provided