Date of Conferral

11-25-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and debilitating psychiatric condition characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, hyperarousal, and alterations in mood and cognition following exposure to traumatic events. Although evidence-based pharmacotherapy is a cornerstone of PTSD treatment, medication nonadherence remains a pervasive barrier to effective symptom management and functional recovery. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) aimed at improving medication adherence in adults diagnosed with PTSD in outpatient psychiatric settings. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model and appraised through the AGREE II instrument, current empirical literature, clinical recommendations, and expert consensus were synthesized to establish standardized, patient-centered practice recommendations. This CPG provides a structured, scalable framework to support advanced practice psychiatric nurses in optimizing pharmacotherapeutic outcomes for individuals living with PTSD.

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