MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Beginning: The beginning of this paper will serve as a background/introduction (one to two paragraphs). I will hook the reader by providing statistics on the prevalence of PTSD. I will also use lay terms to define and discuss the suspected causes for the disorder. Importantly, I will talk about how PTSD was typically seen as a disease only affecting war veterans or survivors of a mass shooting, but it can affect a much wider category of people through interpersonal experiences as well. Finally, I will introduce the two different types of treatment used today (psychotherapy and drug therapy) and the need to carefully reflect on the two sides before choosing a plan of treatment. I will also remind these patients that they should receive mental health care from a primary care physician.

Middle: The middle of this paper will consist of four paragraphs. The first of these paragraphs will provide an explanation of how drug therapy works and use research evidence, adapted for a lay audience, to support this argument of using drug therapy. Following this paragraph, I will provide my own analysis of this argument of using drug therapy by analyzing the research findings (like in the article review). The next two paragraphs will follow the same structure: I will explain how psychotherapy works and provide research evidence to support its use, followed by an analysis of this research findings and this argument.

End: In the end of the paper, I will reveal that these two arguments are commonly seen as an either/or situation; people tend to look at drug therapy and psychotherapy as two adversaries. However, I will use the best findings about each treatment to explain that the combination of both treatments is most effective. I will support this by providing some quotes and patient testimonials of individuals who have benefited from this combination of treatment. I will conclude the paper by acknowledging the worry and concern that a patient might feel when agreeing to a plan of treatment, but I will remind them that, based on this paper, this combined treatment plan can be highly efficacious. Also, I will remind the patients that they should receive mental health care from a primary care physician.

LOGOS: Data on the prevalence of PTSD; explanation of how the methods of treatment work

PATHOS: Testimonials from patients that have benefited from a combined plan of treatment

ETHOS: Credibility of certain research journals and educational websites; credibility of certain psychologists such as Ivan Pavlov when discussing different methods of treatment

STRUCTURE: I will use traditional paragraph format and review of research evidence; paper is structured for a lay audience

GOAL: Reassure patients with PTSD of the efficacy of a combined plan of treatment.

J, you will be even more sensitive a practitioner for having looked at this material now. You might conclude with a paragraph that connects to another PTSD area: Adverse Childhood Events. Both PTSD and ACE are predictive of poor health outcomes in later life. Very compelling stuff.

Also worth noting is Complex PTSD, as arising from years of abuse and neglect, particularly in families or in imprisonment/incarceration. I would expect that separated families at the border (any in refugee camps) would be a serious risk for CPTSD.