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
   
• PTSD does not usually develop following generally upsetting situations such as divorce, loss of job, or failing an exam
   
• 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
   
• You should not be offered a single session of psychological therapy
   
• When symptoms of PTSD are present you should be offered 8-12 sessions of trauma-focussed CBT, regardless of the time elapsed since the trauma
   
• It should be ensured that psychological treatment is regular and continuous (usually at least once a week) and is delivered by the same person
   
• Only psychological treatments that are designed for PTSD should be used to treat PTSD.  There is no evidence at the moment to show that non-trauma-focussed interventions such as relaxation or non-directive therapy can help people with PTSD
   
• Medication should not be offered as routine first-line treatment for adult PTSD sufferers
   
• More than 12 sessions of psychological treatment may be needed if:
   
  
  • There have been multiple traumatic events
  • After traumatic bereavement
  • Where chronic disability results from the trauma
  • When significant co-morbid disorders or social problems are present