Safety Aid Reduction Treatment for PTSD Among Veterans

START-PTSD includes many of the key elements found in empirically supported treatments for PTSD including: a) psychoeducation regarding the development and maintenance of PTSD; and b) exposure to internal sensations and external situations that are connected to one's fear/distress response via identification and elimination of safety aids. Known safety aids to be covered include: cognitive avoidance (e.g., using mental distractions to avoid trauma-related images); situational avoidance (e.g., avoiding crowded market places); checking behaviors (e.g., checking doors, windows, locks, and perimeters more often than necessary); reassurance seeking (e.g., excessively watching the news); other compulsive behaviors (e.g., checking the location of exits); use of companions (e.g., relying on someone to attend a social gathering); and use of alcohol and certain substances (e.g., consuming alcohol to reduce anxiety).