Date of Degree

12-2024

Document Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Program

Nursing

Advisor

Michael D. Moon

Abstract

Background. Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs when individuals experience a traumatic event causing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive difficulties (Sadock et al., 2017). Failure to assess changes in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can result in ineffective treatments (Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense, 2023). Purpose. Implement the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 screening tool as part of an outpatient clinic’s virtual reality exposure therapy protocol evaluating patients’ perceived effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder management. Methods. All staff and providers were educated on the use of the PCL-5 screening tool. Patients were screened at the initial appointment with the provider, at one month, and at the completion of virtual reality exposure therapy. Providers reviewed the PCL-5 results as part of their patient reassessments before making ketamine dosage adjustments in accordance with clinical practice guidelines. Results. All patients were screened at the initial consult with providers. Of the 8 patients screened, 62.5% were screened at one month, and 25% were screened at completion of virtual reality exposure therapy. This accounts for all the patients who had completed one month’s worth of virtual reality exposure therapy and who completed the entire virtual reality exposure therapy respectively. Implications for Practice. The PCL-5 screening tool assists providers in evaluating patients’ perceptions of symptom improvement in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. This helped to individualize virtual reality exposure therapy protocols for patients by determining if improvements in post-traumatic stress disorder were noted with therapy.

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