Though Columbine is now a decade old -- and a larger shooting at Virginia Tech that left 32 dead followed in 2007 -- the wounds of this tragedy are still raw.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Brain scan 'could diagnose PTSD'
"This sensitivity to neutral information is consistent with the PTSD symptom of hypervigilance, where those afflicted are on high alert for threats and are more distracted by not only threatening situations that remind them of the trauma, but also by benign situations," said Dr Rajendra Morey, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University.
"This has not been seen at the brain level before. If further research confirms this preliminary finding, this pattern could be useful in distinguishing the PTSD brain."
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"This has not been seen at the brain level before. If further research confirms this preliminary finding, this pattern could be useful in distinguishing the PTSD brain."
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"I believe that I did have PTSD"
Matthew Marino was sent back to Afghanistan for a second tour of duty after the Army diagnosed him with "anxiety disorder" instead of post-traumatic stress disorder.
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What motive does the Army have to misdiagnose PTSD?
A reluctance to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder could be about the money, and about the need for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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"I am under a lot of pressure to not diagnose PTSD"
A secret recording reveals the Army may be pushing its medical staff not to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder. The Army and Senate have ignored the implications.
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Veterans struggle to truly come home
"I sleep in the garage because I don't want the kids to see me. ... It's cold in the garage. It's more embarrassing, though, if they were to see me," he says.
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Night terrors can lead to strangling and other violent sleep behavior - but treatment can help
“What happens is that an individual is in the depths of sleep, has a partial awakening, and begins to enact certain behavior. The person could have violent or unusual behavior, and if they are dreaming of violent things, they may act them out.”
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Therapy After Terror: 9/11, Psychotherapists, and Mental Health
Once people sought care, who was most qualified to treat them? Using what techniques? For how long?Was it proper to charge for therapy? Was it improper to not charge?Seeley doesn't pretend to have the answers to these questions, but answering them is vital before the next large-scale disaster.
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Drug-Free Therapy Could Erase Memories
Here, doctors repeatedly deliver threatening cues – gun shots, for instance – in safe environments in hopes of drowning out the fearful associations.
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Study holds clue to gauging trauma resiliency
...this could be a potential biomarker that the military might use to keep those who might not be as resilient out of high-stress jobs, while also quickly getting more susceptible troops to help if they experience trauma.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Minus The Traumatic Stress Disorder Part
Scientists at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies are converting content from a game designed to teach soldiers about leadership and tactics into a therapy tool to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in soldiers returning from war in Iraq.
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Monday, March 16, 2009
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It works by using bi-lateral tones listened to on headphones, tapping, and/or eye movement while thinking about the trauma. On the outset it looks very simple...and it is very different from traditional talk therapy. There are many theories, but no one is quite sure how it works. Here is what it looks like during a session: www.youtube.com/watch
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Kansas man sues Tulane fraternity over alleged hazing
claims.. was hazed at Tulane two months before the incident and that he has developed post-traumatic stress disorder that caused him to "take unwise actions because of a breakdown in his decision-making process in stressful situations."
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Secrecy a factor in the rise of military suicides
The Department of the Army has finally gone public and acknowledged the alarming rate of suicide among its ranks. While Army leadership is to be commended for breaking the barrier of silence regarding mental illness in the military, the underlying culture of secrecy that has contributed to the current trend is in dire need of reform.
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Writing After Terrorist Attack Has Positive Medium Term Effects
A new study has analysed the expressive writing of terrorism victims to analyse their psychosocial processes following the terrorist attacks in New York and Madrid. Despite the cultural differences of the people involved, the results show that the feelings and thoughts experienced following this type of traumatic event are universal.
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Army reaches out to families to prevent suicides
"They go from being in the combat zone one day to being in their home the next and our trick is to try to help them turn off that mind-set - that they are no longer in a combat situation,"
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A search for asylum and peace of mind
PTSD, along with depression, is prevalent among asylum seekers who have fled war, torture, or other trauma in their native countries, according to the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights.
The condition complicates immigrants' quest to gain asylum - a key step to citizenship - because of the difficulty sufferers may have in recounting their stories and making them credible before an immigration court.
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The condition complicates immigrants' quest to gain asylum - a key step to citizenship - because of the difficulty sufferers may have in recounting their stories and making them credible before an immigration court.
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Study: Iraqis mentally resilient amid war
About 30 percent have been exposed to shootings or bombings. Others have witnessed killings or mutilated bodies. Nearly 10 percent had a family member kidnapped or had been abducted, captured or imprisoned themselves.
The trauma experienced by respondents of Iraq's first nationwide mental health survey, which was released Saturday, was a grim litany of the violence that pushed the country to the brink of civil war.
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The trauma experienced by respondents of Iraq's first nationwide mental health survey, which was released Saturday, was a grim litany of the violence that pushed the country to the brink of civil war.
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Iraqi mental health study shows need for more care
Nearly 70 percent of Iraqis who said they suffer from mental disorders have contemplated suicide but only a fraction have sought treatment, according to a nationwide study released Saturday.
Sponsored by the World Health Organization and the Iraqi government, the first nationwide mental health survey in Iraq since the war started highlighted the need for improved care for a population that has been hit by years of war and sanctions.
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Sponsored by the World Health Organization and the Iraqi government, the first nationwide mental health survey in Iraq since the war started highlighted the need for improved care for a population that has been hit by years of war and sanctions.
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Generals share their experience with PTSD
Army generals aren't known for talking about their feelings. But two high-ranking officers are doing just that, hoping that by going public they can remove the stigma that many soldiers say keeps them from getting help for post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Stress, suicide: tough wounds for the US Army
Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and record-high suicide rates are haunting American veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, amid a taboo over mental distress.
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PTSD sufferers deserve a medal
A Pentagon study recently estimated that 11% of Iraq veterans and 20% of Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD. Another study counts some 300,000 victims in all. This is not a simple condition. Its effects can range from temporary readjustment problems to suicide and murder, both of which have reached alarming levels among soldiers returning from duty.
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War stress stays after 7 decades
OTTAWA -- He is now 86, but the "invisible wounds" of war remain.
Jerome Jodoin returned from the Second World War with nightmares, irrepressible tears and profound sadness.
Nearly seven decades later, the symptoms are still there.
"All kinds of crazy stuff is in your head. You see the bodies floating in the water and that kind of stuff," he said. "It's very hard for anyone who hasn't been there to realize how serious it is. And you've got it for life."
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Jerome Jodoin returned from the Second World War with nightmares, irrepressible tears and profound sadness.
Nearly seven decades later, the symptoms are still there.
"All kinds of crazy stuff is in your head. You see the bodies floating in the water and that kind of stuff," he said. "It's very hard for anyone who hasn't been there to realize how serious it is. And you've got it for life."
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Friday, March 6, 2009
Soldier Suicides Continue Alarming Rise
After an alarming spike in soldier suicides in January, the U.S. Army said Thursday there were another 18 suspected suicides last month.
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PTSD but not trauma itself ups suicide risk
Results of a study confirm that young adults who develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic events are at increased risk of attempting suicide later on. Importantly, the researchers say, the study also shows that people who experience a traumatic event but do not develop PTSD are not at increased risk of attempting suicide.
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PTSD Veterans Built-In Paranoia
Some PTSD Vets become hermits just to get away from people and/or big trucks that sound like tanks or artillery haulers. Many are afraid of the dark, justifiably so. Night terrors quite commonly are part of that.
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360,000 veterans may have brain injuries
WASHINGTON — Pentagon officials estimated for the first time Wednesday that up to 360,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans may have suffered brain injuries. Among them are 45,000 to 90,000 veterans whose symptoms persist and warrant specialized care.
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A marksman in Iraq; No gun permit in Omaha
echaley, 32, has received counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service in Iraq. While completing an application for a gun permit, he responded "yes" to a question that asked whether he was being treated for a mental disorder.
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'Party' Drug Could be PTSD Treatment
If you discovered it in your kid’s room there’d be hell to pay. If it appeared in a random urinalysis, it could end your career. And if you told your friends you were considering taking it, they might think you’ve suffered a mid-life crisis.
But a South Carolina psychiatrist and a Harvard-educated researcher are looking for veterans who’ve been through hell and are willing to explore a fresh way of getting past the trauma using a drug long associated with the late-night party crowd.
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But a South Carolina psychiatrist and a Harvard-educated researcher are looking for veterans who’ve been through hell and are willing to explore a fresh way of getting past the trauma using a drug long associated with the late-night party crowd.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Tied to Increased Suicide Risk
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of suicide in young adults, says a U.S. study of 1,698 participants who were tracked for 15 years after they started first grade in Baltimore public schools.
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PTSD in Inner City Hikes Suicide Risk
Suicide risk among urban young adults was nearly tripled in the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder -- itself a common feature of inner-city life, researchers here found.
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in War Veterans Domestic Violence Disaster
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder doesn't just affect troops returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, it can affect anyone who has been placed in a life threatening position. This can include survivors of sexual assault, natural disasters and domestic violence among other major crimes or natural occurrences.
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Chimp's victim faces years of emotional, physical trauma
"It's likely to make her hypervigilant, overanxious and highly sensitive to touch and sound, where someone coming up on her unexpectedly -- she may experience panic attacks, shortness of breath, extreme anxiety and intense memories of this chimp's attack."
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Is tetris the post-traumatic wonder cure
the computer game may disrupt the memories that are retained of the sights and sounds witnessed at the time, and which are later re-experienced through involuntary, distressing flashbacks of that moment.
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An outsider in your own life
After the ceremonies and celebrations, troops returning from war face an entirely new battle: Living at home
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No such thing as a memory-erasing pill
Researchers are investigating whether propanolol, a type of drug called a beta blocker, could be used to help people avoid post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Leader of Down Below Gang blames PTSD for killings
will argue that a violent upbringing in Bayview–Hunters Point left Fort with cognitive defects and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which positioned him to commit and attempt murder in self-defense.
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For post-traumatic stress, some promise
"Interestingly, there are some individuals who, when confronted with extreme stress, their hormone profile is rather unique,"
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Monday, February 16, 2009
Survey: Serbia war veterans sicker than rest
BELGRADE, Serbia: A survey has shown that Serbia's war veterans are sicker than the rest of the country's population, with many fighting depression and alcoholism.
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Officials: Army suicides at 3-decade high
WASHINGTON (AP) — Suicides among Army troops soared again last year and are at a nearly three-decade high, senior defense officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.
At least 128 soldiers killed themselves in 2008, said two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the data has not been formally released.
The final count likely will be considerably higher because more than a dozen other suspicious deaths are still being investigated and could also turn out to be self-inflicted.
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At least 128 soldiers killed themselves in 2008, said two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the data has not been formally released.
The final count likely will be considerably higher because more than a dozen other suspicious deaths are still being investigated and could also turn out to be self-inflicted.
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Most Serb veterans suffer badly from war ailments
BELGRADE, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Almost all Serbian veterans of the 1990s Balkans wars are suffering from alcohol abuse, mental health problems or other ailments, a study found.
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Once were warriors
After the horrors of war, many servicemen and women find themselves facing another battle: post-traumatic stress disorder. But a radical programme involving t'ai chi, meditation and Hawaiian "forgiveness" therapy is helping many of them find peace.
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Real 'Gladiators' and Their Real 'Gladiators' and Their Scars
Post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, concussions and other grievous consequences of combat are at epic levels in the U.S. military, and the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are struggling under the weight of the requirements imposed by the scars of war borne by these returning heroes.
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Purple Hearts: A Cold-Blooded Decision
Behind the recent Pentagon decision to deny Purple Heart medals to soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a cold-blooded calculation: It saves money.
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PTSD tied to heart health
A new study of US veterans suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms that increases heart disease and diabetes risk, may be linked.
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Military understanding better post-traumatic stress disorder
When paramedic Frank Labodi came home from Afghanistan after a harrowing tour in 2006, where he was involved in several mass casualty incidents, he slept in fits and was quick to anger.
He isolated himself from his wife and his friends and he increasingly sought solace in a bottle. Certain smells triggered memories of bloody battles and walking down aisles in supermarkets reminded him of creeping between the maze-like walls of Afghan villages.
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He isolated himself from his wife and his friends and he increasingly sought solace in a bottle. Certain smells triggered memories of bloody battles and walking down aisles in supermarkets reminded him of creeping between the maze-like walls of Afghan villages.
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Fire disasters cause psychological distress
Many people will be psychological victims of the fires sweeping through south-eastern Australia as much as physical or economic victims, warns the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
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Troop-related felonies expected to increase
El Paso County District Attorney's office reports between 400 - 500 felonies each year are committed by veterans or active military. As the number of troops increases, the number of felonies is expected to grow.
In a number of cases, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or TBI (traumatic brain injury) is a factor in the crime. A group made up of prosecutors and public defenders is coming together to find solutions.
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In a number of cases, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or TBI (traumatic brain injury) is a factor in the crime. A group made up of prosecutors and public defenders is coming together to find solutions.
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Report shows flood stress on kids
CEDAR RAPIDS — As many as 300 children, many from low-income families, may be feeling the emotional aftereffects of last summer's flood, according to a study issued Tuesday by a group of local service providers.
Up to 30 of those children 6 and under may one day show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the report, "Not 'So Over.'"
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Up to 30 of those children 6 and under may one day show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the report, "Not 'So Over.'"
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9/11 firefighter cautions adjusters on signs of post-traumatic stress
Adjusters are not immune to strong emotional reactions following a traumatic event that can interfere with their life, delegates of the 42nd annual Canadian Insurance Claims Managers’ Association/Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association Joint Conference (CICMA/CIAA) in Toronto.
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To Heal Psychological Trauma, Troops Relive War in Virtual Reality
Sitting in a chair with goggles strapped on, the subject peered out into a virtual battle zone. He was driving down a dusty Iraqi highway. It was dusk. There was one humvee ahead and a fellow Marine riding shotgun next to him.
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DoD leaders seek clues to Army suicide spike
What the Pentagon now wants to determine is whether those stressors are responsible for the reported increase in Army suicides last month.
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When Soldiers Return From War
It was the best of days, it was the worst of days. Each year, I await the approach of April 29th with dread.
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Death in the USA: The Army's fatal neglect
Returning U.S. combat soldiers are committing suicide and murder in alarming numbers. In a special series, Salon uncovers the habitual mistreatment behind the preventable deaths.
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Sydney grief expert says bushfire victims face huge mental ramifications
POST-traumatic stress and depression may run rife among bushfire victims already feeling the effects of Victoria's drought.
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Monday, February 2, 2009
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Smoking may make it worse
Just as many AA meetings were smoke-filled (when it was allowed), so were group therapy meetings of people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It's easy to try to calm the horrific memories with nicotine.
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Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ground Zero workers 'six times more likely to be stressed
Ironworkers at Ground Zero are almost six times more likely to suffer from serious stress disorders than the general public, a new study showed today.
PTSD
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Issue of Military Suicides Continues to Raise Concern
Army officials said Thursday that suicides among troops are at their highest level in decades. In 2008, the Army suicide rate surpassed the civilian rate for the first time since the Vietnam War. In this encore report, Betty Ann Bowser examines the problem of veteran suicides.
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Prison puppies help troops recover from PTS
LOVELAND — If you ask Sgt. Allen Hill about post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, these days, he will quietly correct you and ask you to drop the “D.”
Yes, he’s dealing with post-traumatic stress, but this is not a disorder, he’ll tell you. This is simply a normal, if not incredibly frustrating, part of his post-Iraq War life.
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Yes, he’s dealing with post-traumatic stress, but this is not a disorder, he’ll tell you. This is simply a normal, if not incredibly frustrating, part of his post-Iraq War life.
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
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