Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)
'stressed' is just 'desserts' spelled
backwards
This is the second in our series of spotlights on particular mental health problems and aims as well as displaying the standard information on signs and symptoms treatments etc, and provide a signpost to further information and where to recieve help. In addition to include articles providing all the latest news regardining PTSD . We are particularly interested in any experiences you or your members would like to share or if you or they would like to contribute maybe with an interview or podcast please contact MHNE.
MHNE would like to thank Kevin Meares (Clinical Psychologist Newcastle Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Centre) for his invaluable contribution to these pages
A feature of these pages will be a running blog (Musings of a Most Peculiar Man) charting one service users journey through therapy
After a traumatic experience, it’s normal to feel frightened, sad, anxious, and disconnected. Usually, with time, the upset fades and you start to enjoy life again. But sometimes the trauma is so overwhelming that you find that you can’t move on. You feel stuck with a constant sense of danger and painful memories that don’t fade. If you went through a traumatic experience and are having trouble getting back to your regular life, reconnecting to others, and feeling safe again, you may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Fewer veterans with PTSD using anti-anxiety drugs
06/03/2012 12:57:48
Use of a class of anti-anxiety drugs fell during the past decade among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, a large U.S. study shows
Click HERE to Acces Full Article
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Ex-forces review call by Welsh Conservatives
23/02/2012 14:02:14
A review of improvements in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among ex-service personnel is being urged by Welsh Conservatives.
During a debate in the assembly, Tory AM Darren Millar highlighted the case of L/Sgt Dan Collins, 29, from Pembrokeshire, who was found hanged.
Mr Millar called for progress after a cross-party report identified problems.
The Welsh government said Wales was the only UK country with a dedicated service.
A new link between traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder
23/02/2012 13:58:56
From a new study in Biological Psychiatry
Philadelphia, PA, February 22, 2012 - Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are cardinal injuries associated with combat stress, and TBI increases the risk of PTSD development. The reasons for this correlation have been unknown, in part because physical traumas often occur in highly emotional situations.
However, scientists at University of California at Los Angeles provide new evidence from an animal model of a mechanistic link underlying the association between TBI and PTSD-like conditions.
Children and PTSD
23/02/2012 13:55:17
A child is one of the most precious gifts in their parent's lives, and no parent wants to learn that their child may be at a higher risk of being psychologically or sexually abused or have an increased risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD). A new study gives parents new insight into what could happen. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health have conducted the first study showing what happens to children if they do not identify with their gender before the age of 11. This study shows valuable insight into what may happen later in a child's life.
Signposting
15/02/2012 13:52:08
Links to Further Sources of Information:
UK Trauma Group: clinical network of UK Traumatic Stress Services.
PILOTS database of the National Center for PTSD (USA): published international literature on PTSD.
David Baldwin's Trauma Pages website: up-to-date comprehensive information about trauma including leading articles.
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/ptsd/posttraumaticstressdisorder.aspx#6
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Post-traumatic-stress-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/post-traumatic_stress_disorder
Film to help soldiers with PTSD
15/02/2012 13:44:38
A new film based on the experiences of soldiers in the North West who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is about to be released.It is hoped the film, called Advance to Contact, will encourage more soldiers and their families to talk about the condition.Eddie Edwards, from Preston, was diagnosed with PTSD when he returned from Iraq. His family has struggled to cope with his illness. Peter Coulter reports
Click HERE for preview
Using a cognitive behavioral therapy called 'prolonged exposure' appears more effective than 'present-centered' therapy, a supportive intervention to treat female military veterans and active duty women with posttraumatic stress disorder
15/02/2012 13:09:00
Posttraumatic stress disorder is characterized by symptoms of re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoiding reminders of the event or feeling emotionally numb, and a state of increased psychological and physiological tension. The disorder is associated with psychiatric and physical illnesses, reduced quality of life, and substantial economic costs to society', according to background information in the article. 'Lifetime prevalence in U.S. adults is higher in women (9.7 percent) than in men (3.6 percent) and is especially high among women who have served in the military.'
Click HERE for Full Article
Leading Practitioners Recommend Global PTSD Treatment Guidelines
15/02/2012 12:50:32
In recent years, several guidelines in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder have been put into practice globally. Practice guidelines across the health sphere are very important in guiding the care people receive. Although there is a high level of consensus on these guidelines among practitioners, there are also differences that can lead to confusion among providers, patients, and purchasers of mental health services for people affected by trauma.
Click HERE to read full Article
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
15/02/2012 12:30:48
Definition
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop following a traumatic event that threatens makes you feel helpless. Most people associate PTSD with battle-scarred soldiers-and military combat is the most common cause in men-but any overwhelming life experience can trigger PTSD, especially if the event feels unpredictable and uncontrollable. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect those who personally experience the catastrophe, those who witness it, and those who pick up the pieces afterwards, including emergency workers and law enforcement officers. It can even occur in the friends or family members of those who went through the actual trauma .PTSD develops differently from person to person. While the symptoms of PTSD most commonly develop in the hours or days following the traumatic event, it can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years before they appear. With PTSD, it can seem like you'll never get over what happened or feel normal again. But by seeking treatment, reaching out for support, and developing new coping skills, you can overcome the symptoms of PTSD and move on with your life.
Signs and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
15/02/2012 12:26:32
Signs and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise suddenly, gradually, or come and go over time. Sometimes symptoms appear seemingly out of the blue. At other times, they are triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic event, such as a noise, an image, certain words, or a smell.
While everyone experiences PTSD differently, there are three main types of symptoms:
Re-experiencing the traumatic event
Avoiding reminders of the trauma
Increased anxiety and emotional arousal