Articles tagged with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a novel approach to probing the susceptible brain using electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging. This allows for ongoing monitoring tailored to each individual, enabling early or preventive intervention.
A new study from Duke University found that a drug blocking fatty acid amide hydrolase activity reduces fear in mice by increasing endocannabinoids. Human genetic differences related to the same enzyme also influence how well people cope with fear and stress.
The US Army has implemented a behavioral health screening program in primary care, resulting in improved PTSD outcomes. The program, RESPECT-Mil, has doubled the number of patients experiencing clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptom severity scores over eight weeks.
Researchers found that rats exposed to vinclozolin as fetuses showed increased anxiety, sensitivity to stress, and altered brain activity in their third-generation offspring. This study suggests epigenetic transgenerational inheritance may play a role in the development of post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental disorders.
The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among troops is surprisingly low, thanks to new programs and treatments. The Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program and Battlemind training have helped soldiers build resilience and cope with stressors before deployment and after returning home.
A new study published in Critical Care found that women are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress after leaving an ICU, but a follow-up scheme has been shown to significantly reduce their symptoms. The study suggests that early intervention is crucial for women at high risk of PTSD.
Researchers discovered a link between ACE inhibitors and ARBs and lower PTSD symptom scores in patients taking these medications. The findings suggest that these blood pressure medications could be valuable tools for treating or preventing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a novel target for treating stress-linked disorders: a protein called HDAC6. By modulating glucocorticoid signaling in serotonin neurons, HDAC6 may provide a path towards resilience to stress.
The study explores the relationship between distress tolerance, excessive worry, and anxiety symptoms in college students. Researchers found that distress tolerance plays a unique role in excessive worry, suggesting it could be a useful intervention in therapy.
A study of nearly 1,000 patients with cardiovascular disease found a direct correlation between lifetime traumatic stress exposure and elevated levels of inflammatory markers. The researchers also discovered that this relationship remained even after adjusting for psychiatric diagnoses, suggesting a long-term negative impact on health.
A new study finds that emergency dispatchers experience high levels of peritraumatic distress and symptoms of PTSD after handling potentially traumatic calls. The research highlights the need for prevention and intervention support for these workers.
A new study by Mary Pulido finds that mental health clinicians experienced high levels of secondary traumatic stress due to their work with 9/11 victims. The lack of support and supervision is a significant concern, but peer support was helpful in mitigating the effects.
US Army suicides surged by 80% between 2004 and 2008, with 39% of cases linked to post-Iraq events. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, and substance misuse increased significantly during this period.
The iHeal device detects physiological stressors associated with drug cravings, using sensors to measure physiological changes and body activity. The device delivers user-tailored behavioral interventions via smartphone software, aiming to prevent substance use and reduce health risk.
A study shows that unemployment stress is more closely tied to local green space than age, income, or deprivation. The presence of parks and woodland in economically deprived areas can help people cope with job losses and reduce cortisol levels.
A study led by Dr. Charles Marmar found that police recruits with higher cortisol awakening responses were more likely to experience acute stress symptoms in response to trauma years later. The study suggests that measuring cortisol levels could be a potential indicator for identifying those at high risk for PTSD.
Researchers at UC Berkeley found that dream sleep helps process emotional experiences, removing the edge from painful memories. During REM sleep, stress neurochemicals are suppressed, allowing the brain to connect and integrate memories in a more rational state.
A groundbreaking study by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail found that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk to police officers is lower than initially thought. Police officers who received interventional support after traumatic events showed reduced symptoms of PTSD.
A new RAND Corporation study found that the US Department of Veterans Affairs provides high-quality mental health care to its veterans, comparable to privately insured and Medicare/Medicaid populations. The study highlights areas for improvement, including increasing evidence-based treatments and addressing regional variations in care.
A study published in European Neuropsychopharmacology found that administering a single dose of cortisone up to six hours after traumatic event reduces the likelihood of developing PTSD by 60%. This natural approach may circumvent the harm caused by other pharmaceuticals and prevent the consolidation of traumatic memories.
Researchers found that administering synthetic marijuana helps block PTSD-like symptoms in rats after experiencing trauma. The study suggests a 'window of opportunity' for treatment, which may be longer for humans due to their lifespan.
A study published in Journal of Traumatic Stress found that college students showed increased stress responses to negative visual images, even those not directly exposed to the 9/11 attacks. The research suggests a broader impact on psychological processes, rethinking the severity spectrum for distress reactions.
A study found a link between a serotonin transporter gene variant and PTSD risk, suggesting the gene may predict symptom development after trauma. The researchers also discovered that this gene is associated with depression following life stress, highlighting its potential role in mental health.
Research shows people with PTSD struggle to identify specific emotions, such as fear and sadness, from facial cues. The study found that war veterans with PTSD were less able to recognize these emotions compared to healthy subjects.
A survey of 4,639 Virginia Tech students found that 15.4% experienced high levels of posttraumatic stress three to four months after the shootings. The study suggests that social relationships and anxiety about friend safety were key factors in symptoms of posttraumatic stress.
A randomized controlled trial found that narrative exposure therapy significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in former child soldiers in Uganda compared to other therapies. The treatment was conducted by community-based lay therapists without a mental health background, demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness.
The study found that risk factors for PTSD among OEF/OIF male veterans were similar to those observed in Vietnam veterans, but identified novel mechanisms of risk for OEF/OIF female veterans. Family relationships during deployment played a more prominent role in explaining PTSD in female veterans than in male veterans.
Researchers found that ghrelin hormone is required for prolonged psychosocial stress to promote preference and intake of high-fat food in mice. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic targets for curbing stress-related food behavior.
A groundbreaking study published in Journal of Abnormal Psychology suggests female military service-members are equally resilient to combat-related stress as men. The research, conducted by Boston University School of Medicine, analyzed the mental health of veterans returning from deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq.
A new study found that frequent communication through letters and emails with spouses during deployment can protect against PTSD symptoms in happily married soldiers. However, this benefit only applies to soldiers with higher levels of marital satisfaction.
A pilot study found that Transcendental Meditation significantly reduces stress and depression in veterans, improving relationships and overall quality of life. The technique produced a 50% reduction in PTSD symptoms in just eight weeks, with long-term changes in sympathetic nervous system activity.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that metyrapone, a stress hormone-reducing drug, can impair memory recall of negative events by manipulating cortisol levels close to formation. This could lead to a better understanding of how to treat post-traumatic stress disorder
Weizmann Institute scientists discover that adverse experiences can impair perception, making it harder to distinguish between similar stimuli. This finding may contribute to the development of anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress syndrome.
A study by University of Washington psychologists found no correlation between positive emotions and stress/depression in Asian college students, suggesting therapies focusing on positivity may not work. Instead, mindfulness approaches that acknowledge both good and bad emotions may be more effective.
A team of neuroscientists has discovered a critical 'chemical pathway' in the brain that triggers our response to stress. The study found that increasing production of a protein called neuropsin in the amygdala leads to increased activity and vulnerability to stress.
A recent study suggests that affectionate communication, such as hugging, can help individuals with high levels of alexithymia form more fulfilling relationships and reduce anxiety. Researchers surveyed 921 people and found that sharing affection reduces the negative impact of alexithymia on relationships.
Studies found that exercise prevents telomere stress and cell aging, suggesting a link between physical activity and healthier cells. Telomeres measure cell age and health, with shorter lengths linked to diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.
A new study finds that larger hippocampal volumes are linked to recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implying that the hippocampus may play a role in reversing damage caused by chronic stress. The research suggests that treatment for PTSD could be viewed as a form of brain restoration, rather than just symptom relief.
Research identifies four major PTSD symptoms with varying effects on quality of life, challenging common assumptions about the disorder's impact. Symptoms tied to heightened arousal, such as trouble sleeping and irritability, were found to have a significant association with lower quality of life among PTSD patients.
A study from Emory University and the University of Vermont has found a link between high blood levels of hormone PACAP and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women, but not men. The hormone modulates central nervous system activity, metabolism, and immune function.
A study published in Journal of Traumatic Stress found that virtual reality exposure therapy significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in active duty military service members, with 62% reporting clinically meaningful change. The innovative treatment uses multi-sensory virtual reality to safely access and process traumatic memories.
The study found that three urocortin proteins play a central role in regulating stress responses and shutting down the stress response. Genetically engineered mice lacking these proteins showed impaired recovery from stress, highlighting their importance in returning to normal behavior.
A 12-week mindfulness meditation program shows measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, self-awareness, empathy, and stress. Increased grey-matter density was observed in areas important for learning and memory, as well as structures linked to compassion and introspection.
A recent study by the University of Miami found that 35% of children experienced moderate to severe posttraumatic stress symptoms almost two years after Hurricane Charley, and those who still showed signs of stress at nine months were likely to persist with symptoms another year later. Social support from peers was also found to be cru...
Researchers found that nearly 95.6% of 3,271 civilian WTC survivors reported posttraumatic stress symptoms and 15% screened positive for PTSD two years after the disaster. The study identified five predictors of PTSD: late evacuation initiation, high floor exposure, dust cloud exposure, personal horror, and employer fatalities.
Researchers at MSU found that soldiers with a positive outlook were less likely to experience health problems after traumatic events. The study suggests training individuals to think more optimistically could help them cope better with distressing events.
Researchers found that stress activates memory recall of unrelated experiences in laboratory rats, which may offer insights into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions. The study's results suggest that traumatic stress can reactivate non-traumatic memories, linking them to the traumatic experience.
Researchers have identified a molecular cause of post-traumatic stress syndrome and developed a treatment that calms brain chemicals. The new drug, MPEP, was found to prevent the condition when administered within five hours of a traumatic event, offering hope for early intervention.
Research published in Frontline Gastroenterology finds that Crohn's disease patients are more likely to experience worsening symptoms if they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with nearly one in five patients scoring high on the PTSD scale
A new consensus on TBI and PTSD establishes common language, measurement, treatment, and potential outcomes, promoting greater consistency and collaboration among researchers. The set of papers provides recommendations for clinical research on TBI and psychological health, aiming to advance the field.
Researchers at U of M Medical School and Minneapolis VA Medical Center discovered a correlation between increased circuit activity in the right side of the brain and involuntary flashbacks triggered by PTSD. The magnetic test, called Magnetoencephalography (MEG), reveals differences in brain activity among those with PTSD compared to h...
Researchers used MEG to study brain activity in PTSD sufferers and healthy individuals, finding increased circuit activity on the right side of the brain. This hyperactive network is linked to involuntary flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
A new approach, Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), improves communication between child and caregiver to prevent chronic and sub-clinical PTSD in 73 percent of children. The intervention also promotes recovery more quickly than a comparison intervention.
The study compares and contrasts various global PTSD treatment guidelines, highlighting differences that can lead to confusion. The researchers emphasize the importance of trauma-focused psychological interventions as the most effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder.
A new study highlights the excess burden of medical conditions on top of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning US soldiers. Women with PTSD suffer from more medical conditions than men, with a median value of 7 conditions compared to 4.5 in women without mental health issues.
Researchers have found that traumatic stress can be passed down to future generations through epigenetic changes, affecting gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. This discovery has opened up new avenues for understanding the long-term effects of trauma on mental health.
A University of Colorado School of Medicine study found that incorporating mentoring and group skill-building intervention programs for children in foster care may help improve mental health outcomes. The study demonstrated that treatment groups reported fewer symptoms of depression, dissociation, and posttraumatic stress, and better q...
Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found a high prevalence of PTSD nearly two decades after the Liberian civil war, with certain villages experiencing a higher burden of trauma. The study suggests that populations exposed to severe conflict are likely to bear a long-lasting psychological toll.
Researchers monitored Israeli soldiers' neural mechanisms during daily rocket attacks, revealing a dissociative state rather than hypervigilance. This study has significant implications for PTSD therapy, suggesting a neuromarker that can predict chronic PTSD risk.
A study of over 5,000 veterans with substance use disorders found that 70% died by suicide using violent means. Those who died by overdose had more severe mental disorders, highlighting the importance of addressing substance use disorders and access to lethal means for prevention.