The Safety Net

PTSD Treatment in Singapore

Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Tan Sheng Neng

MMED (Psych), MBBS, MCI, FAMS

PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event such as military combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event. At first, it may be challenging to continue with daily activities, work, school or social activities. However, most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. If your quality of life continues to suffer after several weeks, you may contact our PTSD specialist for a detailed evaluation.

What is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health condition typically caused by a person experiencing a severe traumatic event, particularly one where the person’s life was at risk.

People with PTSD may show signs of depression, and anxiety, have difficulty sleeping, feel emotionally numb or show a loss of interest in daily activities they once loved.

In many cases, everyday experiences may begin to ‘trigger’ a person into remembering the traumatic event, causing them to have an intense emotional and physiological response.

It’s important to note that having upsetting memories, feeling on edge, or having trouble sleeping after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event is normal.
However, after several weeks of the traumatic event, if your quality of life continues to suffer, or you find yourself trying to suppress painful memories, and/or avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic event, you may have PTSD.

PTSD is considered a serious medical condition where many untreated individuals develop depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug dependence.

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Senior Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr. Tan Sheng Neng

Dr Tan was the Director of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service (2017-2019) at Changi General Hospital (CGH), Singapore. He was also an Assistant Director (Psych) of the Integrated Sleep Service at CGH (SingHealth Duke-NUS Sleep Centre), where he helped develop into a department in 2018.

  • Master of Medicine (Psychiatry)
  • Master of Clinical Investigation (MCI)
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
  • Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS)

At present, besides the clinical work in his clinic and hospitals, Dr Tan also holds the following appointments:

  • Clinical Advisor to Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
  • Lecturer to Executive Counselling and Training Academy (ECTA)
Dr Tan has a specialised interest in neuropsychiatry. He treats patients with Sleep Disorders, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Brain trauma or injury, particularly from strokes.
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Common Causes of PTSD

Many factors play a part in whether a person will get PTSD. Below are some factors that make a person more likely to get PTSD. Some of these factors are present before the trauma, and others become important during and after a traumatic event.

  • Living through dangerous events and traumas
  • Having a history of mental illness
  • Getting hurt
  • Seeing people hurt or killed
  • Feeling horror, helplessness or extreme fear
  • Having little or no social support after the event
  • Dealing with extra stress after the event, such as the loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home

Common Symptoms of PTSD

It is important to note that acute distress following a severe traumatic event is quite common; however, if your symptoms persist after several weeks, you should seek professional advice. There are three main types of PTSD symptoms:

Re-living the trauma

This can happen through distressing memories, nightmares or "flashbacks", or being exposed to anything that may resemble any aspect of the traumatic event. Recurring and intrusive recollections of the traumatic event, such as images, thoughts, or perceptions, and behaving or feeling as if the trauma was recurring at the moment, are also possible.

Avoidance of the Traumatic Event

In this situation, the person will avoid any cues or signs associated with the original trauma. The individual might make an effort to avoid thoughts, feelings, or topics associated with the trauma, and remembering a critical aspect of the event. In social interactions, the individual may also avoid activities, places, or people that lead to memories of the trauma.

Persistent heightened anxiety and physical tension

An individual with PTSD may experience increased aggression and irritability and a lack of interest in social activities. This may lead to feeling detached or disconnected from others, trouble concentrating on daily activities, hypervigilance, and easily startled. It is important to note that symptoms may appear immediately after the trauma or many months later.

What could happen if I don't seek professional help?

As a result of experiencing PTSD, many individuals may go on to develop a range of other issues that can significantly impact several aspects of their life. This includes their relationships, ability to work and quality of life.

Many of these issues often arise from an individual’s attempts to suppress painful memories or control their symptoms.

Individuals may turn to drugs and alcohol to numb their symptoms or avoid certain situations that remind them of the traumatic event. It is also common for people with PTSD to engage in angry outbursts and attack those closest to them to deal with their issues, which can significantly impact their social relationships.

Many untreated individuals also develop depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug dependence, and thus people living with PTSD must seek professional help early.

It’s important to note that having upsetting memories, feeling on edge, or having trouble sleeping after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event is normal.
However, after several weeks of the traumatic event, if your quality of life continues to suffer, or you find yourself trying to suppress painful memories, and/or avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic event, you may have PTSD.

PTSD is considered a serious medical condition where many untreated individuals develop depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug dependence.

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Treatments for PTSD

Medications for PTSD

Medications can be effective too. Some specific SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), which are used for depression, also work for PTSD. These include sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

CPT is a type of trauma-focused psychotherapy. This is where you learn skills to understand how trauma changed your thoughts and feelings. Changing how you think about the trauma can change how you feel.

Prolonged Exposure (PE)

PE is another type of trauma-focused psychotherapy. This is where you talk about your trauma repeatedly until memories are no longer upsetting. This will help you get more control over your thoughts and feelings about the trauma. You also go to places or do safe things, but you have been staying away from them because they remind you of the trauma.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is another type of trauma-focused psychotherapy. This treatment involves focusing on sounds or hand movements while discussing the trauma. This helps your brain work through the traumatic memories.

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Your treatment Roadmap
with Dr Tan

1

Registration

Our friendly clinic staff will assist you with your registration, ensuring an efficient and hassle-free process for you. Book your appointment today.

2

Detailed Consultation

Dr Tan will speak to you, assess your condition, and develop a personalised treatment plan, which may include therapy and/ or medication.

3

Follow-up Visits

Dr Tan will schedule follow up visits to check in with you and make adjustments to your personalised treatment plan if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does PTSD last?

In some cases, particularly where it is not treated, PTSD can last a very long time, perhaps the remainder of the individual’s life. Most people with longstanding PTSD find that the symptoms are not steady in their severity. For a select number of people, PTSD symptoms gradually fade over time. Other people find that symptoms may increase when they encounter reminders of their traumatic events.

If your symptoms persist after several weeks and you find it affecting your quality of life, it is highly advisable to seek professional advice.

What's the difference between a normal reaction to a traumatic event and PTSD?

People react to traumatic events in many ways, such as sadness, irritability and confusion. In the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, most people experience stress and have trouble concentrating, sleeping or getting along with others.

With PTSD, the symptoms worsen, affecting their social and work life, and persist for longer than a month. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms over a more extended period of time, you should seek professional help.

Is PTSD Curable?

While several treatment options can relieve symptoms of PTSD, there is no specific “cure.”

Certain treatments have been known to improve symptoms, restore self-esteem, and teach individuals with PTSD the proper skills to cope with it. However, learning these skills won’t necessarily make the disorder go away.

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