Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological reaction to experiencing or witnessing a severely shocking event. It means getting stuck in re-experiencing a traumatic event. Your body and mind act like the event is still happening, right now, even though it is in the past. It keeps your body in a fight or flight response.
PTSD can lead to depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know might have PTSD, it’s important to get help. Read more about PTSD.
On this page you will find information on:
App reviews: PTSD apps
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PTSD apps – help me choose
There are a variety of apps aimed at supporting people with PTSD. These apps differ in their features and functionality. Choosing between the apps is challenging because many of them have been developed without any input from healthcare professionals or objective assessment.
A recent study outlined the following treatment and self-help methods for PTSD:1
- Psychoeducation
- About stress responses and reaction to trauma
- About strategies of managing arousal and flashbacks
- About safety planning
- Emotional regulation and coping skills
- Acquisition and consolidation of cognitive, behavioural and social skills
- Skills to reduce and control arousal, distress and anxiety
- Cognitive processing, restructuring and meaning making
- Affirmations.
- Thought stopping, removing problematic cognitive strategies.
- Analysing the meaning of the event; writing a trauma narrative.
- Processing trauma-related emotions & beliefs
- Processing emotions (eg, shame, guilt, anger)
- Targeting beliefs (eg, safety, trust, power-control, esteem)
- Training to challenge distorted beliefs about the event
- Adaptive reappraisal of trauma – generated beliefs about self and others
- Reorganisation of memory processes
- Elaboration and processing of trauma memories
- Correcting autobiographical memory
- Identifying triggers for flashbacks
- Imaginal and/in vivo exposure
- Preparation (eg, building a fear hierarchy)
- Help to reduce or overcome avoidance
- Exposure to traumatic events
- Written exposure recounting the trauma
- Breathing retraining
- Relaxation exercises
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) related exercises
- Bilateral eye movements during sustained recall of trauma memories
- Attention to a back and forth movement or sound
- Self-care and structuring of everyday life
- Healthy diet
- Exercise (increasing physical activity)
- Sleep regulation
- Daily structure
- Energizing activities
- Accepting support and asking for help from others
- Expressing personal needs
- Verbalising feelings
- Appreciating good intentions from others
- Homework assignments
Learn more
Apps for PTSD(external link) PsyberGuide
Related topics
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Mental health and wellbeing apps
Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
NZ health app library
References
- Sander LB, Schorndanner J, Terhorst Y. ‘Help for trauma from the app stores?’ A systematic review and standardised rating of apps for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)(external link) Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2020; 11(1): 1701788.
- Rodriguez-Paras C, Tippey K, Brown E. Posttraumatic stress disorder and mobile health: App investigation and scoping literature review(external link) JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2017 Oct; 5(10): e156.
| App developer: If you are the developer and would like to provide updated information about this app, please email the app library manager at hello@healthify.nz
Disclaimer: Healthify’s app library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly. |
