ScienceDaily: PTSD News

For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:32 EDT

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks.

Posttraumatic stress disorder associated with type 2 diabetes

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:38:38 EDT

The presence of posttraumatic stress disorder is significantly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.

Repeat brain injury raises soldiers' suicide risk

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

Suicide risk is higher among military personnel with more lifetime TBIs, even after controlling for clinical symptom severity. Results of the study show that multiple TBIs, which are common among military personnel, may contribute to increased risk for suicide.

Brain-imaging study links cannabinoid receptors to post-traumatic stress disorder: First pharmaceutical treatment for PTSD within reach

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:50:50 EDT

In a first-of-its-kind effort to illuminate the biochemical impact of trauma, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a connection between the quantity of cannabinoid receptors in the human brain, known as CB1 receptors, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the chronic, disabling condition that can plague trauma victims with flashbacks, nightmares and emotional instability.

Chronic pain sufferers likely to have anxiety

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

Patients coping with chronic pain should also be evaluated for anxiety disorders, according to new research.

Traumatized moms avoid tough talks with kids

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:17:17 EDT

Mothers who have experienced childhood abuse, neglect or other traumatic experiences show an unwillingness to talk with their children about the child's emotional experiences, a new study shows.

Persistent pain after stressful events may have a neurobiological basis

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

A new study is the first to identify a genetic risk factor for persistent pain after traumatic events such as motor vehicle collision and sexual assault. The study also contributes further evidence that persistent pain after stressful events has a specific biological basis.

PTSD research: Distinct gene activity patterns from childhood abuse

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:44:44 EDT

A study of adult civilians with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) has shown that individuals with a history of childhood abuse have distinct, profound changes in gene activity patterns, compared to adults with PTSD but without a history of child abuse.

Psychological trauma after miscarriage is more likely in women using assisted reproduction

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:43:43 EDT

Subfertile women who conceive through assisted reproduction are more likely to experience a greater traumatic impact following early pregnancy loss compared with women who conceive naturally, suggests a new study.

Promising results from first U.S. clinical trial for stem cell-based treatment of ALS

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:55:55 EDT

Researchers who completed the first American clinical trial involving stem cell-based treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) were encouraged by the trial study's results, noting that this delivery approach could be a helpful therapeutic approach for other traumatic spine-related problems.

Mild blast injury causes molecular changes in brain akin to Alzheimer

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:31:31 EDT

Scientists have shown that mild traumatic brain injury after blast exposure produces inflammation, oxidative stress and gene activation patterns akin to disorders of memory processing such as Alzheimer's disease.

Nearly half of U.S. veterans found with blast concussions might have hormone deficiencies

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:20:20 EDT

Up to 20 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have experienced at least one blast concussion. A new study finds about 42% of screened veterans with blast injuries have irregular hormone levels indicative of hypopituitarism. Many conditions associated with hypopituitarism mimic other common problems that veterans can suffer, such as PTSD and depression.

Intranasal neuropeptide Y may offer therapeutic potential for post-traumatic stress disorder

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:38:38 EDT

Stress triggered neuropsychiatric disorders take an enormous personal, social and economic toll on society. In the US more than half of adults are exposed to at least one traumatic event throughout their lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating anxiety disorder associated with exposure to a traumatic event outside the range of normal human experience.

Mindfulness therapy might help veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EDT

A new study shows that veterans with PTSD who completed a mindfulness-based group treatment plan showed a significant reduction in symptoms as compared to patients who underwent treatment as normal.

Acute stress primes brain for better cognitive and mental performance

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:45:45 EDT

Chronic stress is known to cause major health problems, yet acute stress can be good for you. A new study shows why. Stress generates new nerve cells in the brain that, two weeks later, help you learn better. Thus, unlike chronic stress, acute stress primes the brain for improved cognitive and mental performance.

Pain improves during first year but mental-health problems linger in returning veterans with major limb injuries

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:40:40 EDT

Few studies document short- and long-term pain and behavioral health in combat-injured service members with major limb trauma. In a 2-year longitudinal study, multiple post-injury pain and related outcomes are reported.

Most effective PTSD therapies are not being widely used, researchers find

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects nearly 8 million adults in any given year, federal statistics show. Fortunately, clinical research has identified certain psychological interventions that effectively ameliorate the symptoms of PTSD. But most people struggling with PTSD don't receive those treatments, according to a new report.

Brain's stress circuits undergo profound learning early in life, scientists find

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Researchers have discovered that stress circuits in the brain undergo profound learning early in life. Using a number of cutting edge approaches, including optogenetics, scientists have shown stress circuits are capable of self-tuning following a single stress. These findings demonstrate that the brain uses stress experience during early life to prepare and optimize for subsequent challenges.

Public support can influence soldiers' mental health, bug killing study suggests

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:45:45 EDT

Can events supporting troops reduce the risk of soldiers experiencing combat-related stress disorders? A new study suggests so.

Research identifies co-factors critical to PTSD development

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:42:42 EDT

New research has found that the action of a specific gene occurring during exposure to adolescent trauma is critical for the development of adult-onset post-traumatic stress disorder.

Targeting mental defeat among pain patients could prevent anxiety and depression

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:19:19 EDT

A new study of Hong Kong chronic pain patients suggests that targeting feelings of mental defeat could prevent severe depression, anxiety and interference with daily activities.

Few effective, evidence-based interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder, review finds

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:01 EDT

A new review summarizes the results of a systematic review of clinical interventions for adults exposed to at least one traumatic event such as war, a natural or human-made disaster, motor vehicle accidents, community violence, sexual assault or domestic violence.

Finnish children sent to Sweden to avoid war suffered more than those who stayed

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

Finnish war children, that is, Finnish children who were evacuated to safety in Sweden during the second world war, faced greater hardships than children who remained in Finland, a new study suggests. In particular, there are marked differences in the risk for heart diseases and diabetes as well as in the prevalence of mental health problems.

Marital conflict causes stress in children, may affect cognitive development

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:02:02 EDT

Marital conflict is a significant source of environmental stress for children. Witnessing such conflict may harm their stress response systems, affecting their mental and intellectual development. Research findings suggest that stress from marital conflict can hinder children's development of cognitive ability.

Brain mapping reveals neurological basis of decision-making in rats

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Scientists have discovered how memory recall is linked to decision-making in rats, showing that measurable activity in one part of the brain occurs when rats in a maze are playing out memories that help them decide which way to turn. The more they play out these memories, the more likely they are to find their way correctly to the end of the maze.

Low cognitive score and risk of brain injury linked

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:46:46 EDT

Young men with low cognitive function and low socioeconomic status are significantly more likely to suffer from mild traumatic brain injury than those without, a new study suggests. Current literature suggests that mild traumatic brain injuries cause changes in brain tissues and have important long-term consequences on cognitive function, but new findings suggest that low cognitive function may come first.

Single concussion may cause lasting brain damage

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:26:26 EDT

A single concussion may cause lasting structural damage to the brain, according to a new study.

Vets' PTSD affects mental and physical health of partners

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EST

A new study of veterans with PTSD and their partners looks at intimate relationship conflict and finds greater physiological and anger responses for the male veterans as well as their female partners. Researchers conclude that the findings may have important implications for treatment and services for returning veterans and their families.

Higher heart attack rates continue 6 years after Katrina

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EST

New Orleans residents continue to face a three-fold increased risk of heart attack post-Katrina -- a trend that has remained unchanged since the storm hit in 2005, according to new research.

Protein synthesis blocker may hold key to reducing effects of traumatic events

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:16:16 EST

Reducing fear and stress following a traumatic event could be as simple as providing a protein synthesis blocker to the brain, report a team of researchers in a new paper.

Nearly 1 in 4 women with breast cancer report PTSD symptoms, study finds

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:40:40 EST

Nearly one in four women (23 percent) newly diagnosed with breast cancer reported symptoms consistent with PTSD shortly after diagnosis, with increased risk among black and Asian women, according to a new study.

Police and firefighters at higher risk for mental disorders following traumatic events

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:12 EST

New research suggests that exposure to diverse types of traumatic events among protective services workers is a risk factor for new onset of psychopathology and alcohol use disorders.

PTSD symptoms common among ICU survivors

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:12:12 EST

One in three people who survived stays in an intensive care unit and required use of a mechanical ventilator showed substantial post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms that lasted for up to two years, according to a new study of patients with acute lung injury.

Rocket attacks on Israeli city increase miscarriage likelihood, study finds

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:10:10 EST

Rocket attacks in Sderot, Israel significantly increase the likelihood of miscarriages, according to a new study. The study compared 1,341 pregnancies of women (exposed group) who resided in Sderot, an area exposed to frequent rocket fire, with 2,143 pregnancies of women who lived in Kiryat Gat (unexposed group), which is out of range of missiles.

Why some soldiers develop PTSD while others don't

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:42:42 EST

Pre-war vulnerability is just as important as combat-related trauma in predicting whether veterans' symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder will be long-lasting, according to new research.

Threat bias interacts with combat, gene to boost PTSD risk

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:57:57 EST

Soldiers preoccupied with threat at the time of enlistment or with avoiding it just before deployment were more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in a study of Israeli infantrymen. Such pre-deployment threat vigilance and avoidance, interacting with combat experience and an emotion-related gene, accounted for more than a third of PTSD symptoms that emerged later. Computerized training that helps modify such attention biases might help protect soldiers from the disorder.

Few effective, evidence-based interventions for children exposed to traumatic events

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:07:07 EST

About two out of every three children will experience at least one traumatic event before they turn 18. Despite this high rate of exposure, little is known about the effectiveness of treatments aimed at preventing and relieving traumatic stress symptoms that children may experience after such events, according to researchers.

Traumatic brain injury complications common among U.S. combat soldiers

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:10:10 EST

U.S. soldiers in combat often suffer constricted blood vessels and increased pressure in the brain -- significant complications of traumatic brain injuries, according to new research.

In combat vets and others, high rate of vision problems after traumatic brain injury

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST

Visual symptoms and abnormalities occur at high rates in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) -- including Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans with blast-related TBI, a new study reports.

Humanitarian aid workers in Uganda show signs of stress, depression, and burnout

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:24:24 EST

The high risk for mental health problems among staff working in humanitarian organizations in northern Uganda is due in large part to their work environment. Scientists examined the mental health of 376 Ugandan workers at 21 humanitarian aid agencies and found that a significant number of the staff at these organizations experienced high levels of symptoms for depression (68 percent), anxiety disorders (53 percent), and posttraumatic stress disorder (26 percent), respectively.

Active duty military personnel prone to sleep disorders and short sleep duration

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:44:44 EST

A new study found a high prevalence of sleep disorders and a startlingly high rate of short sleep duration among active duty military personnel. The study suggests the need for a cultural change toward appropriate sleep practices throughout the military.

'Neurosteroid' found to prevent brain injury caused by HIV/AIDS

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:59:59 EST

Scientists found that DHEA-S may prevent neurocognitive impairment affecting a significant percentage of AIDS patients. A new report describes how a network of steroid molecules in the brain, termed "neurosteroids," is disrupted during HIV infection leading to brain damage.

Stroke survivors with PTSD more likely to avoid treatment

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:45:45 EST

65% of stroke survivors with PTSD, vs. 33% of those without PTSD, failed to adhere to treatment. Nonadherence in PTSD patients was partially explained by increased ambivalence toward medication. About one-third of stroke survivors with PTSD viewed medications as disruptions to their lives, worried about long-term effects of medications or potential dependence on them.

Study assesses mood disorders with TMJ pain

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:20:20 EST

There is an ongoing debate about the role of psychological disorder symptoms as risk factors for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. Previous studies have associated depression and TMJ pain but large scale studies have not been performed. German researchers evaluated more than 3,000 community subjects and found that those with depression and anxiety had increased risk for temporomandibular pain upon palpation.

Childhood trauma leaves its mark on the brain

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:02:02 EST

Scientists have found evidence that psychological wounds inflicted when young leave lasting biological traces -- and a predisposition toward violence later in life.

Is there a period of increased vulnerability for repeat traumatic brain injury?

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:13:13 EST

Repeat traumatic brain injury affects a subgroup of the 3.5 million people who suffer head trauma each year. Even a mild repeat TBI that occurs when the brain is still recovering from an initial injury can result in poorer outcomes, especially in children and young adults. A metabolic marker that could serve as the basis for new mild TBI vulnerability guidelines is described in a new article.

Long-term consequences for those suffering traumatic brain injury

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:51:51 EST

Researchers studying the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) using rat models, have found that, overtime, TBI results in progressive brain deterioration characterized by elevated inflammation and suppressed cell regeneration. However, therapeutic intervention, even in the chronic stage of TBI, may still help prevent cell death.

People with mental disorders more likely to have experienced domestic violence

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:30:30 EST

Men and women with mental health disorders, across all diagnoses, are more likely to have experienced domestic violence than the general population, according to new research.

MRIs reveal signs of brain injuries not seen in CT scans

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:32:32 EST

Hospital MRIs may be better at predicting long-term outcomes for people with mild traumatic brain injuries than CT scans, the standard technique for evaluating such injuries in the emergency room, according to a new clinical trial.

Oxytocin, social sharing and recovery from trauma

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:15:15 EST

Therapists have long known that people who’ve had a traumatic experience feel the need to talk about what they’ve been through. This process is called ‘social sharing’ and can take place for days, weeks, months or years after the event.

Chronic worriers at higher risk for PTSD, research finds

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:07:07 EST

People who worry constantly are at greater risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new research.

Intracranial pressure monitoring for traumatic brain injury questioned

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:57:57 EST

For patients with a traumatic brain injury, the default standard of care has just been turned on its head by a new study. Researchers found that intracranial pressure monitoring -- the standard of care for severe traumatic brain injury -- showed no significant difference than a treatment based on imaging and clinical examination.

Psychological therapies improve life for children with post-traumatic stress disorder, study suggests

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:33:33 EST

Children suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of traumatic events, including child abuse, may benefit from psychological therapies, according to a new review. In the first systematic review of PTSD in young people, researchers found that children and teenagers diagnosed with PTSD showed signs of improvement up to three months following treatment and called for more studies to assess long-term benefits.

Concussions affect children's brains even after symptoms subside

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:31:31 EST

Brain changes in children who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, persist for months following injury -- even after the symptoms of the injury are gone, according to a new study. The findings highlight the potential benefit of using advanced imaging techniques to monitor recovery in children following concussions.

'Commitment-phobic' adults could have mom and dad to blame

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:35:35 EST

A study of the romantic history of 58 adults aged 22-28 found that those who avoid committed romantic relationships are likely a product of unresponsive or over-intrusive parenting, says a psychologist.

Research identifies a way to block memories associated with PTSD or drug addiction

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:11:11 EST

New research could lead to better treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and drug addiction by effectively blocking memories. The research has identified a common mechanism in a region of the brain called the pre-limbic cortex, which can suppress the recall of memories linked to both aversive, traumatic experiences associated with PTSD and rewarding memories linked to drug addiction, without permanently altering memories.

Childhood trauma leaves mark on DNA of some victims: Gene-environment interaction causes lifelong dysregulation of stress hormones

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 16:40:40 EST

Abused children are at high risk of anxiety and mood disorders, as traumatic experience induces lasting changes to their gene regulation. Scientists have now documented for the first time that genetic variants of the FKBP5 gene can influence epigenetic alterations in this gene induced by early trauma.

Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder by facing trauma memories

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:41:41 EST

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of learning that begins at the moment of the exposure to extremely stressful situations and that grows in impact as trauma-related memories are rehearsed and strengthened repeatedly. This somewhat oversimplified view of PTSD yields a powerful prediction: if one could disrupt the rehearsal and strengthening of traumatic memories, a process called reconsolidation of memories, then one might reduce PTSD risk or PTSD severity after potentially traumatic events.

Being bullied can cause trauma symptoms

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:40:40 EST

Problems caused by bullying do not necessarily cease when the abuse stops. Recent research shows that victims may need long-term support.

Brain compensates after traumatic injury, evidence shows

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:04:04 EST

Researchers have found that a special magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique may be able to predict which patients who have experienced concussions will improve. The results suggest that, in some patients, the brain may change to compensate for the damage caused by the injury.