The objective is to treat three ARMS of PTSD patients: ARM 1: Newly untreated diagnosed PTSD patients referred from a participating Mental Health Clinic (pMHC) who have not yet received any PTSD treatment for a 2-week therapy of rescue acupuncture (six 30 minute sessions Monday, Wednesday, and Friday); ARM 2: Newly diagnosed PTSD patients referred from the pMHC but already placed on pharmacological therapy (i.e. Prazosin, SSRI, sedative, etc.) prior to their enrollment in the pMHC; and ARM 3: newly diagnosed PTSD patients with or without medications referred to pMHC but have a mild traumatic brain injury that does not impede their judgment ability. ARMs 2 and 3 will follow the same rescue acupuncture program as ARM 1. A PCL-5 questionnaire will be administered prior to and after rescue acupuncture. ARMs 1, 2, and 3 patients will return to the pMHC (after 2 weeks of rescue acupuncture) to start or continue pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological therapy(s) and will also be evaluated by a PCL-5 questionnaire at the start and after 2 weeks. Statistical analysis of the PCL-5 questionnaire will compare the three ARMS together as to whether acupuncture is a benefit or not to the patient following therapies received for 2 weeks in the pMHC. The lowering of the PCL-5 symptomatic questionnaire score is a favorable indication of a benefit.
The summary of this research study is to test the effectiveness of a rapid rescue acupuncture technique as a non-pharmacologic alternative treatment for the reduction of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in affected individuals as a means to improve warfighter health and enable a more rapid return to duty, especially in austere environments. Patients will receive acupuncture as a research-related course of treatment for PTSD. The PCL-5 questionnaire will be used to assess the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms. A PCL-5 questionnaire will be administered at the beginning of the first treatment of rescue acupuncture and after the last treatment. Following the acupuncture treatment, a PCL-5 questionnaire will be initiated at the beginning of the first week of treatment and the end of the second week of treatment at the participating Mental Health Clinic (pMHC).