Stress inoculation training is a cognitive behavioral treatment for PTSD.
The basic goal of stress inoculation training is to help a person gain confidence in his ability to cope with anxiety and fear stemming from reminders of their trauma.
During stress inoculation training, the therapist helps the client become more aware of what things are reminders (also referred to as "cues") of fear and anxiety. In addition, clients learn a variety of coping skills that are useful in managing anxiety, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing.
The therapist helps the patient learn how to detect and identify cues as soon as they appear so that the patient can put the newly learned coping skills into immediate action. In doing so, the patient can tackle the anxiety and stress early on before it gets out of control.
