Michael Keller, Ph.D and published in the Minnesota Police Journal Introduction Since then, law makers continue to fight for the rights and benefits of Minnesota’s first responders as well as continue to raise awareness of PTSD, including the re-introduction of a crucial bill in the 2017 legislative session that directly affects first responders who suffer from PTSD. In October of 2013, the Minnesota workers’ compensation law recognized post-traumatic stress disorder as a covered or compensable injury for purposes of workers’ compensation law. read more ).This article was originally published in December, 2015 in the Minnesota Police Journal. PTSD was and continues to be an important topic with major implications for Minnesota’s first responders who suffer from PTSD. It is characterized by intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks avoidance. Various other medications are being used with increasing evidence of efficacy these include mood stabilizers (eg, valproic acid), atypical antipsychotics (eg, aripiprazole), and psychedelics (such as MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin) ( 7 Treatment references Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling disorder that develops after exposure to a traumatic event. A brief course of sedating medications can help with insomnia. Prazosin appears helpful in reducing nightmares ( 6 Treatment references Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling disorder that develops after exposure to a traumatic event. read more may reduce anxiety and/or depression ( 5 Treatment references Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling disorder that develops after exposure to a traumatic event. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Several drug classes and drugs can be used to treat depression: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Serotonin modulators (5-HT2 blockers) Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. read more, and/or substance use disorder Substance Use Disorders Substance use disorders involve a pathologic pattern of behaviors in which patients continue to use a substance despite experiencing significant problems related to its use. read more, anxiety disorder Overview of Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent and excessive fear and anxiety and the dysfunctional behavioral changes a patient may use to mitigate these feelings. Diagnosis is often further complicated by the existence of a co-occurring depressive disorder Depressive Disorders Depressive disorders are characterized by sadness severe enough or persistent enough to interfere with function and often by decreased interest or pleasure in activities. The trauma can lead to a complex swirl of cognitive, affective, behavioral, and somatic symptoms. The trauma may not be obvious to the clinician, and the patient may not be motivated to discuss a difficult topic.