Drug Overdose May Lead to PTSD Symptoms
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Traci Pedersen
3y ago
Surviving or witnessing a drug overdose is a psychologically traumatic event that can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new Johns Hopkins study of female sex workers. The study of 380 sex workers in Baltimore City revealed that more than one-half reported symptoms of PTSD within the first six months after experiencing or witnessing an overdose and after accounting for other traumas they may have experienced. The findings, published online in the International Journal of Drug Policy, could help inform overdose treatment programs, which typically focus on ..read more
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Veterans’ Service Dogs Most Commonly Ease Anxiety
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Traci Pedersen
3y ago
How do service dogs help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? A new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, found that the most important and most commonly performed task involved the dog disrupting the veteran’s anxiety episodes. While previous studies have shown that service dogs can benefit some veterans with PTSD, it has remained unclear the exact role they play in their day-to-day lives. “There has been some debate on what kind of training PTSD service dogs need to be effective and how their assistance may be different than what a pet dog can provide,” sai ..read more
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Traumatic Experiences Can Be Seen in the Eyes
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Traci Pedersen
4y ago
A new Welsh study suggests that a person’s pupils may reveal if they have experienced a traumatic event in the past. The findings show that the pupils of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) grow larger in response to emotional stimuli than those without PTSD. In addition, when PTSD patients are faced with any high-level emotional stimulation — even positive emotions like an exciting sports event — it can immediately trigger the body’s threat system. PTSD can occur when a person has experienced a traumatic event such as a car crash, combat stress, or abuse. They can be left with a ..read more
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Community & Police Partnership Can Help Kids Who Witness Parental Violence
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Traci Pedersen
4y ago
An innovative police and community-based partnership, called the Child Trauma Response Team, was shown to be successful at screening and treating children for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately after witnessing intimate partner violence, according to a new study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. “Families that experience poverty, social disadvantage and structural racism are at a higher risk for severe intimate partner violence, but those same factors are also barriers to accessing the post-trauma support offered by community-based organizations,” said Amanda S ..read more
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Mouse Study: How Fear Turns Into Chronic Anxiety
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Traci Pedersen
4y ago
In a new study, researchers wanted to better understand how fear from a frightening event can evolve into chronic anxiety in some individuals. “Until now, psychiatrists had little information about what goes on in the brain after a fearful experience, and why some people don’t easily recover and remain anxious, for even as long as the rest of their lives,” says team leader Elaine L. Bearer, MD, PhD, from the University of New Mexico (UNM). The goal of the study was to shed light on the brain’s response to fear and why, in some cases, it can lead to prolonged anxiety states like post-traumatic ..read more
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Nitrous Oxide for PTSD?
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Traci Pedersen
4y ago
A new pilot study gives an early glimpse into how veterans who are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may benefit from one simple, inexpensive treatment involving nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. For military veterans with PTSD, symptoms such as anxiety, anger and depression can have a devastating effect on their health, daily routine, relationships and overall quality of life. The study, which involved three military veterans struggling with PTSD, could lead to improved treatments for the debilitating psychiatric disorder that has affected thousands of current ..read more
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Why Military Deployment Is Harder for Some than Others
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Rick Nauert PhD
4y ago
A new study by Michigan State University researchers looks at why active duty has a profoundly different mental health effect for many veterans. The issue is important for veterans, their family and colleagues, and military leaders. Numerous studies have found that deployment can be associated with poorer mental health in military families, behavioral problems in children, a higher risk of divorce, and higher rates of suicide. Indeed, many service members and spouses regularly name deployments as the most stressful aspect of military life. The new study is unique as it looks at the solider see ..read more
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“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger” Proven False By New Research
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Janice Wood
4y ago
The famous saying, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” is so universally accepted that it is used in everyday conversations and popular songs. But a new study finds the truism is actually false. According to researchers, past stressful experiences do not create resilience to future trauma. In fact, the research suggests the opposite is true: Past stressors sensitize people to future traumas, increasing their chances of developing a mental health disorder. “We hope that this research will spur interest in the face of the increasing number of natural disasters per year — a major conseque ..read more
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Common Mental Health Disorders Caused by Adversity, not Chemistry?
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Rick Nauert PhD
4y ago
Emerging research suggests some of the most common mental disorders including depression, anxiety and PTSD, might not be disorders at all, rather a response to adversity. As such, an effective strategy for the afflictions may be to find a social or cultural solution. In the study, Washington State University biological anthropologists propose a new approach to mental illness that would be informed by human evolution. They contend that modern psychology, and in particular its use of drugs like antidepressants, has largely failed to reduce the prevalence of mental disorders. In the paper, publis ..read more
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Recalling Childhood Abuse May Matter More for Mental Health Than Records
Psych Central News - PTSD
by Traci Pedersen
4y ago
Recalling a personal account of childhood maltreatment is more closely linked to mental health problems than legal proof that the maltreatment occurred, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. The findings suggest that the subjective experience of maltreatment as a child may play a more vital role in adult emotional disorders than the event itself, and as a result, clinical work focusing on a patient’s memories and thinking patterns around abuse and neglect could be more influential on mental health than previously thought. A research team from King’s College ..read more
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