Entries categorized as PTSD

Many Veterans Not Getting Enough Treatment For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

On February 13, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In PTSD / No Comments

American SoldierWe recently alerted you to Eric Newhouse’s work to improve veterans’ access to much needed PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatments, such as neurofeedback and cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES). New evidence emerged today that supports Newhouse’s claim that soldiers need better and easier access to treatments. A new study showed that although the Department of Veteran Affairs is rolling out treatments nationwide as fast as possible to adequately provide for newly diagnosed PTSD patients, there are still significant barriers to veterans getting a full course of PTSD treatment. The study is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Traumatic Stress. (continue reading)

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Researchers Discover Method To Objectively Identify Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

On February 7, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Brain Imaging, PTSD / No Comments

Researchers at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Medical Center have identified a biological marker in the brains of those exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A group of 74 United States veterans were involved in the study, which for the first time objectively diagnoses PTSD using magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive measurement of magnetic fields in the brain. It is something conventional brain scans such as an X-ray, CT, or MRI have failed to do. (continue reading)

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Animal Behavioral Studies Can Mimic Human Behavior

On February 6, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Neuroscience / No Comments

Studying animals in behavioral experiments has been a cornerstone of psychological research, but whether the observations are relevant for human behavior has been unclear. Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have identified an alteration to the DNA of a gene that imparts similar anxiety-related behavior in both humans and mice, demonstrating that laboratory animals can be accurately used to study these human behaviors. (continue reading)

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Losing Sleep, Losing Brain?

On February 5, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Sleep / No Comments

Chronic and severely stressful situations, like those connected to depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, have been associated with smaller volumes in “stress sensitive” brain regions, such as the cingulate region of the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory formation. A new study, published by Elsevier in Biological Psychiatry, suggests that chronic insomnia may be another condition associated with reduced cortical volume. (continue reading)

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Brain Imaging Shows Kids’ PTSD Symptoms Linked To Poor Hippocampus Function

On January 12, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Brain Imaging, PTSD / No Comments

Psychological trauma leaves a trail of damage in a child’s brain, say scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Their new study gives the first direct evidence that children with symptoms of post-traumatic stress suffer poor function of the hippocampus, a brain structure that stores and retrieves memories. The research helps explain why traumatized children behave as they do and could improve treatments for these kids. “The brain doesn’t divide between biology and psychology,” said Packard Children’s child psychiatrist Victor Carrion, MD, the primary author of the new research. “We can use the knowledge we get from understanding brain function to improve the psychology of the individual and vice versa.” (continue reading)

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Science Daily Research News Update 12-21-09

On December 21, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In News / No Comments

newspaper_genericThe 12-21-09 edition of the Science Daily Research News Update brings about a plethora of newly published health research. Read on to discover more on very concerning data that shows that the rate of Autism Disorders climb to 1% among 8-year-olds, Rush University Medical Center to open the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinic, how saturated fats my anger the immune system and lead to Type II Diabetes, physicians over-prescribe antibiotics due to perceived parental pressure, 10 to 15 percent of women have maladaptive eating behaviors, health experts urge Santa to get off his sleigh and walk, a possible link between the immune system and COPD, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) helps prevent obesity in “at risk” teenage girls, a cup of coffee may make it harder for people to realize they are drunk, and much, much more. (more…)

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Eric Newhouse’s Crusade To Improve Veterans’ Access To Much Needed PTSD And TBI Treatments, Including Neurofeedback And CES

On December 10, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In CES, Featured, Neurofeedback / No Comments

faces_of_combat_coverPulitzer Prize winning journalist Eric Newhouse illuminates the dire circumstances that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently encounter in his book, “Faces of Combat, PTSD and TBI: One Journalist’s Crusade to Improve Treatment for Our Veterans.” The Behavioral Medicine Report obtained the publisher’s permission to post Chapter 19 where Newhouse discusses the effectiveness of neurofeedback and cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) and the Veterans Administration’s (VA) refusal to support these treatments. This story also includes interviews with Siegfried and Susan Othmer. (more…)

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From Sudan – A Story of Coherent Breathing and PTSD

On December 4, 2009 / By Stephen Elliott / In PTSD, Psychophysiology / No Comments

women_breathing_newsletters_pageFrom the Coherence Newsletter, written by guest contributor Ellen Ratner, White House Correspondent and Bureau Chief for The Talk Radio News Service, author, and Fox News contributor.

In March 2008, I along with other talk show hosts, was invited by Christian Solidarity International to visit Sudan on a humanitarian mission. Being very impressed with their work and continued dedication to freeing people in slavery after a catastrophic 22 year civil war, I was glad to have the opportunity to participate. (more…)

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Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service Members (Army STARRS)

On November 21, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Suicide / No Comments

military_marinesExpect to see many more articles about on-going psychological/suicide research with the U.S. military in light of the recent Ft. Hood tragedy. Psychologists are especially trained and suited to play a primary role in helping our soldiers better cope with their often strenuous and demanding duties. We previously reported on psychological health and the U.S. Military in “United States Army To Evaluate and Improve The Psychological Health Of All Soldiers” and “The Soldiers Suicide Prevention” Seeks To Improve The Lives Of Our Valiant American Soldiers.” The focus of today’s report is The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service Members (Army STARRS). Army STARRS is the largest study of suicide and mental health among military personnel ever undertaken. (more…)

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NIH/NIMH Research News Update 10-17-09

On October 17, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In News / No Comments

nih-nimh-news-updateThe National Institutes of Health / Mental Health (NIH/NIMH) Research News Update for October 2009 details very interesting and, at times, cutting-edge research. For example, scientists have started to assemble the first Transcriptional Atlas of Human Brain Development, patterns of cerebral “neuronal avalanches” in may be related to mental illness, high tech robots may have helped find a new treatment compound for Alzheimer’s disease, research on gene regulation of psychiatric disorders and Autism will receive a major boost in funds and research, and much more. (more…)

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What is Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation? (Part 2)

On September 30, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In CES, Featured / No Comments

CES_brain_Pt2In Part 1 of this series, a basic introduction to Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), also known as Cranial Electrical Stimulation and Cranial Electrostimulation, was given that included a technical overview, typical treatment protocols, and common side effects. Next, Part 2 details CES’ proposed mechanism of action and treatment effectiveness with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, as well as a few closing thoughts. Readers can expect many more future posts on CES and its treatment of various ailments. I anticipate that the first will cover a well-designed CES for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) study. (more…)

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An Overview Of Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback And Its Treatment Effectiveness For Substance Abuse

On September 18, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Neurofeedback / No Comments

pillsNeurofeedback, also known as EEG biofeedback, has been used successfully for the treatment of substance abuse for over 25 years. Built on the work of Kamiya and Green (Budzynski, 1999), Eugene Peniston published a series of papers using alpha-theta neurofeedback with a Veteran’s Administration (VA) population of Vietnam War veterans diagnosed with alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Peniston & Kulkosky, 1989; Peniston & Kulkosky, 1990; Peniston, Marrinan, Deming, & Kulkosky, 1993). These important ‘Peniston papers’ no doubt facilitated a wave of EEG practitioners who rely on alpha-theta neurofeedback, or its modified forms, to treat substance abuse (as well as PTSD) that continues to this day. (more…)

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Science Daily Research News Update 8-24-09

On August 24, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In News / No Comments

newspaper_generic The 8-24-09 edition highlights new research with an upcoming study on music’s influence on children with Autism, caffeine and poor sleep in teens, an interesting link between Alzheimer’s and PTSD, several new brain-related studies, an anti-depressant medication that may stimulant the brain’s growth factors, aroma therapies that can reduce stress, the link between stress, depression and pediatric asthma, and much more. (more…)

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Science Daily Research News Update 8-16-09

On August 16, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In News / No Comments

newspaper_generic Check out today’s Research News Update for the latest on the role of positive emotions and resilience, several new studies on Autism, including differences in how these persons learn new behaviors and the role of parental stress in their child’s behaviors, brainmaps that can detect early mental illness, such as schizophrenia, psychological interventions may not prevent PTSD, the role of the immune system in seizures following a traumatic brain injury, the role of stress and depression in childhood Asthma, and moderate amounts of alcohol may ward off dementia. (more…)

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“The Soldiers Suicide Prevention” Seeks To Improve The Lives Of Our Valiant American Soldiers

On June 20, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Suicide / No Comments

soldiers_saluting -copyright Stacy BraswellThe Beck Institute, a non-profit organization headed by Aaron Beck, M.D., created The Soldiers Suicide Prevention to provide a central resource for suicide prevention mental healthcare services for the proud men and women of our fighting forces. Healthcare providers can also receive Cognitive Therapy-based suicide prevention training. As a strong supporter of our fine military personnel, I urge our readers to get involved with this great cause. The Soldiers Suicide Prevention hopes to significantly increase the number of mental health professionals trained in suicide prevention specifically suited for America’s soldiers, and they currently offer Training Scholarships as an added financial incentive. You can apply for a scholarship here. The Soldiers Suicide Prevention also requests your tax deductible donations to ensure continued and expanded operations for this important mission. (more…)

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