Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has received a lot of attention since the various military operations started including Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation New Dawn (OND) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The rates of post-traumatic stress disorder has increased significantly among members of the military that are returning from service. The condition has now been marked…
DetailsA new app has been released in Australia called PTSD Coach Australia. This app has been designed in order to help people that suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) manage their symptoms. The app was originally developed in the United States by the National Center for PTSD and National Center for Telehealth and Technology. The…
DetailsThe universally accepted definition as declared by United Nations (UN) regarding “victims of crime” states that “people who have suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that are in violation of criminal laws”. So, a victim of crime is the…
DetailsRecent Australian research has show that improvements in PTSD symptoms following treatment does not always result in improved family functioning. The study showed that PTSD did not predict family functioning, whereas family functioning predicted PTSD. These results demonstrate how functional domains, particularly family functioning, can have notable impact on the recovery from PTSD. Treatment of…
DetailsThe effects of PTSD extend far beyond its symptoms. PTSD can affect both physical and mental health as well as quality of life in multiple ways. For example, Cognitive Processing Therapy improves physical health and sleep. Prolonged Exposure improves physical health and social functioning. Clients treated with Prolonged Exposure report better social functioning , and…
DetailsSeveral short-term psychosocial treatment programs for PTSD have been developed and found useful. The majority of these programs fall within the domain of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. The most studied program is Prolonged Exposure in which patients repeatedly relive their traumatic event and systematically confront trauma-related situations that evoke unrealistic anxiety. Variants of Exposure Therapy have…
DetailsAfter exposure to an extremely traumatic experience, some individuals re-experience the traumatic event in recollections, flashbacks, nightmares or after encountering reminders of the event. They may also develop emotional numbing and avoid situations that trigger unpleasant memories. Despite emotional numbing, many individuals with PTSD also have increased arousal or alertness. Re-experiencing the traumatic event. Most…
DetailsRecent research has indicated that migraine suferers are more apt to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population, Therefore the identification and treatment of PTSD in migraine sufferers may be an important part of their care that may reduce migraine-related disability. The study found that PTSD was present in 30.3% of those with chronic daily headache and…
DetailsA recent study has shown that Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a predictor of suicide. Individuals exposed to trauma, such as a physical assault, and go on to develop PTSD, are up to three times more likely to attempt suicide compared with those individuals who did not develop PTSD. Treatment considerations for those individuals suffering from PTSD should therefore…
DetailsRecent research has suggested that increased arousal, rapid heart and respiration rates, at the time of trauma may predict subsequent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Elevated heart rate and respiration rate immediately following a traumatic event are shown to be associated with subsequent PTSD, suggesting a possible starting point for examining the mechanics of this disorder.
Victims of crime suffering from Posttraumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to engage in behaviours which have adverse health consequences, such as cigarette smoking, alcol and drug abuse as well as poor diet and physical inactivity. 1. PTSD raises the risk of someone smoking by two-fold. 2. About half of individuals suffering from PTSD will…
DetailsPostraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. PTSD should be considered just as likely a risk factor as smoking and cholesterol. Over time PTSD increases inflammation which can corrode a peson’s arteries. If you have been a victim of crime and suffering from PTSD you should contact Victims of…
DetailsTranscranial Magentic Stimulation therapy (rTMS) of the right prefrontal cortex for patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to alleviate anxiety symptoms and provided therapeutic effects for PTSD patients. rTMS is an emergenging new treatment which will soon be avialable in Australia.
Providing psychological first aid post trauma: 1. Help victims meet their basic needs. 2. Listen to others who wish to share their story. 3. Be compassionate. 4. Provide accurate information about the situation. 5. Help victims stay connected with family and friends. 6. Encourage victims to take control and help thenselves. 7. Help address concerns…
DetailsWomen who become victims of sexual assault typically experience the victimization as a traumatic event, perceiving it as an emotional shock. Common reactions to this kind of trauma are:
Depression is something we all experience. Depression becomes an illness when it is severe enough to interfere with normal functioning and does not improve with time.
DetailsThere ia a link between Child Ssexual Abuse and subsequent negative short- and long-term effects on development as well as the development od posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, suicide, sexual promiscuity and poor academic performance,
New research suggests that repeat stimulation of certain brain regions with magnets can help alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating psychiatric condition that can occur after exposure to life-threatening events, such as military combat or violent personal assault.
A region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex has an “important role in mediating responses to stressful situations,” Dr. Hagit Cohen and colleagues from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel note in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
DetailsThe fourth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) defines posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a reaction to an event, either personally experienced or witnessed, that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others.
As well, the response to the traumatic event must involve intense fear, helplessness, or horror.
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