Tag: PTSD

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Groundbreaking Study Reveals Yoga’s Effectiveness in Treating Military Sexual Trauma-Related PTSD in Women Veterans

In a major breakthrough, a randomized clinical trial has found Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) to be as effective as first-line cognitive processing therapy (CPT) in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to military sexual trauma (MST) in women veterans. The study, conducted within the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care systems, involved 131 women veterans with PTSD, revealing significant results.

Key Findings:

  1. Equivalent Effectiveness: TCTSY demonstrated large within-group effect sizes comparable to CPT, indicating its equivalence in reducing PTSD symptom severity.
  2. Higher Completion Rate: TCTSY boasted a 42.6% higher treatment completion rate than CPT, signifying greater acceptability among participants.
  3. Cost-Effective Treatment: The study suggests that TCTSY is a cost-effective means to expand the range of PTSD treatment options within the VA.

Implications:

  1. Broader Treatment Options: TCTSY’s success opens up new avenues for PTSD treatment, providing women veterans with an alternative that is both effective and acceptable.
  2. Improved Access: The higher completion rate of TCTSY suggests increased access to patient-driven and effective PTSD treatment for women veterans.
  3. Addressing Associated Symptoms: TCTSY not only reduces PTSD symptoms but also shows promise in improving associated symptoms like depression and anxiety.

Background:

  • Prevalence of PTSD in Women Veterans: PTSD poses a significant threat to the physical and mental health of women veterans, with one in five women patients in the VA experiencing PTSD.
  • Military Sexual Trauma (MST): MST, defined as threatening sexual harassment or assault during military service, is a leading cause of military service-related PTSD among women veterans.

Current PTSD Treatment Limitations:

  • Low Engagement: First-line trauma-focused therapies, though effective, face challenges with low treatment initiation, high dropout rates, and incomplete efficacy.
  • Growing Preference for Yoga: Veterans’ increasing preference for yoga as a PTSD treatment has prompted the VA to expand access to complementary and integrative health modalities.

Study Details:

  • Participants: 131 women veterans aged 22 to 71 years with MST-related PTSD were enrolled and randomized to TCTSY or CPT.
  • Interventions: TCTSY involved 10 weekly, 60-minute group sessions, while CPT comprised 12 weekly, 90-minute group sessions.
  • Outcome Measures: PTSD symptom severity was assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).

Conclusion: This groundbreaking study establishes TCTSY as an effective and acceptable treatment for women veterans with PTSD related to MST. The results, with their potential to reduce treatment limitations and enhance accessibility, could mark a significant advancement in PTSD care for women veterans. The integration of Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga into existing treatment options holds the promise of improving the lives of those affected by military sexual trauma-related PTSD.

Credit: JAMA Network Open, Belle Zaccari

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New Study Shows Link Between PTSD Symptoms and Women’s Cardiovascular and Brain Health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer’s disease are significant public health concerns, especially for women. A recent study aimed to explore the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the cardiovascular and brain health of midlife women, taking into account the influence of the APOEε4 genotype.

In a cross-sectional study conducted between 2016 and 2021, 274 midlife women, aged 45 to 67 years, without a history of CVD, stroke, or dementia, participated. Researchers collected data through questionnaires, physical examinations, blood tests, neuropsychological assessments, carotid ultrasonography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Key Findings:

Cardiovascular Health: Women with higher PTSD symptoms had significantly greater carotid atherosclerosis, as indicated by higher carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), an established measure of subclinical CVD.

Brain Health: Among women who carried the APOEε4 genotype (a risk factor for CVD and dementia), higher PTSD symptoms were associated with more significant white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in the brain. WMH is indicative of brain small vessel disease and has links to cognitive decline and dementia.

Cognitive Function: PTSD symptoms were associated with poorer cognitive performance in women who were APOEε4 carriers, particularly in areas of attention, working memory, semantic fluency, perceptual speed, and processing speed.

Implications:

These findings suggest that PTSD symptoms, even at relatively low levels, are associated with adverse cardiovascular and neurocognitive outcomes in midlife women. The study highlights the vulnerability of women who are carriers of the APOEε4 genotype to these negative effects. Given that PTSD affects around 10% of women during their lifetime, these results emphasize the importance of early intervention and preventive measures to mitigate cardiovascular and neurocognitive risks, particularly in this at-risk population.

Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between PTSD symptoms and the health of midlife women, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of the impact of trauma on both cardiovascular and brain health.

Source: JAMA Network Open Journal

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ผลการศึกษาวิจัยล่าสุดบ่งชี้ถึงความเชื่อมโยงระหว่างโรคสมาธิสั้น(ADHD)กับความเสี่ยงที่เพิ่มขึ้นต่อการเกิดความผิดปกติทางจิตรวมถึงการพยายามทำร้ายตนเอง.

การศึกษาวิจัยชิ้นใหม่พบว่าบุคคลที่มีโรคสมาธิสั้น (ADHD) มีความเสี่ยงสูงที่จะเป็นโรคซึมเศร้า โรคเบื่ออาหาร โรคความเครียดหลังเหตุการณ์สะเทือนใจ (PTSD) และความพยายามฆ่าตัวตาย การวิจัยพบว่าผู้ที่เป็นโรคสมาธิสั้นมีโอกาสพยายามฆ่าตัวตายสูงเกินกว่า 30% และมีโอกาสเป็นโรคซึมเศร้าสูงกว่า 9% นอกจากนี้ ผู้ที่เป็นโรคสมาธิสั้น (ADHD) ที่มีอาการซึมเศร้าร่วมอยู่ด้วยมีแนวโน้มที่จะพยายามฆ่าตัวตายมากกว่า 42% การวิจัยชี้ให้เห็นว่าปัจจัยทางพันธุกรรมที่เกี่ยวข้องกับความหุนหันพลันแล่นซึ่งเป็นลักษณะทั่วไปของโรคสมาธิสั้นอาจมีส่วนทำให้เกิดความผิดปกติและพฤติกรรมฆ่าตัวตายได้

โรคสมาธิสั้นยังมีความเชื่อมโยงกับความเสี่ยงที่เพิ่มขึ้น 18% ในการพัฒนาไปสู่โรคพีทีเอสดี หรือ “โรคเครียดจากการเผชิญเหตุการณ์สะเทือนใจ” (PTSD) และความเสี่ยงของโรค PTSD เพิ่มขึ้นถึง 67% หากในบุคคลนั้นมีทั้งโรค ADHD และมีภาวะซึมเศร้าร่วมกัน การวิจัยยังได้สร้างความเชื่อมโยงโดยตรงระหว่างโรค ADHD และอาการเบื่ออาหาร (Anorexia Nervosa) โดยระบุว่าความเสี่ยงที่เพิ่มขึ้นสำหรับอาการเบื่ออาหารเป็นผลมาจาก “การขาดดุลทางระบบประสาท” ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการควบคุมแรงกระตุ้นที่พบในทั้งสองสภาวะ แม้ว่าการวิจัยดังกล่าวจะเน้นถึงความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างโรคสมาธิสั้น(ADHD) กับภาวะทางสุขภาพจิต แต่งานวิจัยดังกล่าวก็ไม่ได้พิสูจน์ถึงสาเหตุโดยตรง อย่างไรก็ตาม ผลการวิจัยดังกล่าวได้เน้นย้ำถึงความสำคัญของการตรวจคัดกรองตั้งแต่เนิ่น ๆ เพื่อหาสัญญาณของภาวะซึมเศร้า ความคิดทำร้ายตนเอง หรืออาการเบื่ออาหารในผู้ป่วยสมาธิสั้น จึงจะสามารถรักษาและช่วยเหลือได้อย่างเหมาะสม นอกจากนี้ยังเน้นย้ำถึงบทบาทของพันธุกรรมและปัจจัยด้านสิ่งแวดล้อมอื่นๆ ต่อการกำหนดทิศทางของผลลัพธ์ด้านสุขภาพจิตที่จะเกิดขึ้นของแต่ละบุคคล.

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A recent study has identified a connection between ADHD and an increased risk of developing mental disorders as well as attempting suicide.

A recent study has shed light on the strong connection between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and an increased risk of developing various mental health conditions, including depression, anorexia nervosa, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, the research highlights the elevated likelihood of suicide attempts among individuals with ADHD. Here’s a closer look at the study’s key findings and implications.

ADHD and Mental Health

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by patterns of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsive behavior. The study found compelling associations between ADHD and several mental health challenges:

  1. Suicidal Behavior: Individuals with ADHD were found to be 30% more likely to attempt suicide. Moreover, they exhibited a 9% higher chance of developing major depression. Alarmingly, once individuals with ADHD developed depression, their risk of attempting suicide increased by a significant 42%.
  2. Shared Genetic Factors: The study highlighted common genetic factors between ADHD and suicidal behavior, possibly linked to impulsivity—an inheritable trait associated with ADHD. Impulsivity is a core feature of ADHD and is closely intertwined with suicidal tendencies.
  3. PTSD Risk: People living with ADHD faced an 18% higher likelihood of developing PTSD following a traumatic event. This risk surged to 67% when ADHD and depression co-occurred.
  4. Anorexia Nervosa: The study unveiled a direct link between ADHD and anorexia nervosa—an eating disorder characterized by a distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight. People with ADHD exhibited a greater propensity to engage in extreme weight-control behaviors, such as vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diet aids, diuretics, or enemas. It’s important to note that anorexia is not solely about food but is often an unhealthy way of coping with emotional problems.

Shared Neurocognitive Deficits

The study’s findings regarding ADHD and anorexia nervosa were particularly striking. Both conditions were attributed to shared “neurocognitive deficits” revolving around impulse control issues. Impulsivity is a hallmark symptom of ADHD and is thought to arise from abnormalities in neural pathways that govern reward and impulse inhibition.

Genetics and Environmental Factors

While genetics play a significant role in an individual’s predisposition to certain conditions, the environment also exerts a profound influence on whether these genetic factors manifest as clinical disorders. Children with the same biological disorder, such as ADHD, may exhibit different symptoms based on their environmental context.

Implications and Early Screening

The study underscores the importance of comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for ADHD in both children and adults. It also highlights the value of early screenings for signs of depression, suicidal ideation, or anorexia in individuals with ADHD. Early detection can lead to tailored interventions and improved support.

Looking Ahead

In conclusion, while ADHD is associated with a higher risk of various mental health conditions and suicide attempts, it’s essential to recognize that genetics and environmental factors together shape an individual’s mental health outcomes. The study’s findings reinforce the need for proactive screening and comprehensive treatment for ADHD, offering the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected.