GP Vivas · mental-health
Post-traumatic stress disorder — structured viva
Structured oral on PTSD: defending trauma-focused therapy as first-line with trial numbers, the honest pharmacotherapy hierarchy, prazosin's contested evidence, the cannabis conversation, and prognosis counselling across civilian and veteran populations.
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Study tools
Target exams
RACGP CCEFRACGP oralsMRCGP SCA
Prompt
The examiner opens: 'A colleague says every trauma patient should just get an SSRI from the GP and time will do the rest — defend your guideline.' The viva branches through the psychotherapy evidence, pharmacotherapy honesty, nightmares and prazosin, cannabis, comorbidity and prognosis.
Stem
A 38-year-old paramedic presents eight months after attending a mass-casualty incident. Intrusive images at work, avoidance of the depot, irritability with his family, two standard drinks nightly to sleep. CAPS-5-qualifying symptoms on structured review. He wants "whatever works fastest". [1]
References8ShowHide
- [1]Bisson JI, et al. Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2013.PMID 24338345
- [2]Cusack K, et al. Psychological treatments for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev, 2016.PMID 26574151
- [3]Mavranezouli I, et al. Psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis. Psychol Med, 2020.PMID 32063234
- [4]Williams T, et al. Pharmacotherapy for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2026.PMID 42206608
- [5]Raskind MA, et al. Trial of Prazosin for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans. N Engl J Med, 2018.PMID 29414272
- [6]O'Neil ME, et al. Benefits and Harms of Plant-Based Cannabis for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med, 2017.PMID 28806794
- [7]Milligan T, et al. Loss of PTSD Diagnosis in Response to Evidence-Based Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 2025.PMID 40397424
- [8]Kroeger CM, et al. Post-traumatic stress disorder in Australia: Results from the 2020-2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2026.PMID 42303590