How does the TRT approach to treating trauma, or PTSD, differ from other approaches?
All aspects of TRT keep the focus on the etiology or source of the trauma rather than the symptoms. The opposite of etiotropic is nosotropic. Nosotropic means the focus is on the reduction of symptoms. While all treatment occurs on a continuum, TRT is the only fully Etiotropic method for resolving trauma. Behavioral methods include behavior modification, medication and systematic desensitization. All of these are fully nosotropic in that their only goal is to reduce the symptoms of PTSD or chronic stress responses. Cognitive-behavioral methods spend some time on developing insight into the source of the symptoms but only to figure out a way to reduce the symptoms. Psychodynamic models start out by delving into the etiology, but again to identify symptoms that need to be changed. TRT, on the other hand, maintains the focus on the etiology, even precluding attempts to change symptoms, until the etiology is fully reversed. ETM theory sees symptoms as a normal and necessary response to tra
