What are the referral criteria for military personnel presenting with potential PTSD symptoms in a primary care setting?

Referral criteria for military personnel with potential PTSD symptoms in primary care:

• Military personnel presenting with clinically important symptoms of PTSD, identified by validated scales or clinical assessment, should be assessed comprehensively in primary care, including physical, psychological, social needs, and risk assessment.
• GPs should take responsibility for initial assessment and coordination of care, determining the need for emergency physical or mental health assessment.
• Referral to specialist mental health services is indicated if there is severe functional impairment, risk of harm to self or others, complex PTSD features, or if initial management in primary care is insufficient.
• Consider referral when symptoms include re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, dissociation, negative mood and thinking, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, or negative self-perception, especially if these cause significant distress or impairment.
• Additional considerations for military personnel include trauma related to combat and moral injury, which may require specialist PTSD-trained practitioners.
• Referral should also be considered if comorbidities such as severe depression or substance misuse complicate the clinical picture and require specialist input.

In all cases, shared care arrangements between primary and secondary services should be clearly agreed and documented, involving the patient and, where appropriate, their family or carers.

This approach ensures timely access to evidence-based assessment and treatment services tailored to the needs of military personnel with PTSD symptoms.

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