scholarly journals Potential Neurocognitive Biomarkers for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Severity in Recent Trauma Survivors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziv Ben-Zion ◽  
Yoav Zeevi ◽  
Nimrod Jackob Keynan ◽  
Roee Admon ◽  
Tal Kozlovski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Functional Domain ◽  
Structural Domain ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cluster Membership ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Ptsd Severity

AbstractContemporary symptom-based diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) largely overlooks related neurobehavioral findings and rely entirely on subjective interpersonal reporting. Previous studies associating objective biomarkers with PTSD have mostly used the disorder’s symptom-based diagnosis as main outcome measure, overlooking the actual clustering and richness of phenotypical features associated with PTSD. Here, we aimed to computationally derive potential neurocognitive biomarkers that could efficiently differentiate PTSD subtypes, based on an observational cohort study of recent trauma survivors. A three-staged semi-unsupervised method (“3C”) was used to categorize trauma survivors based on current PTSD diagnostics, derive clusters of PTSD based on features related to symptom load, and to classify participants’ cluster membership using objective features. A total of 256 features were extracted from psychometrics, cognitive, structural and functional neuroimaging data, obtained from 101 adult civilians (age=34.80±11.95, 51 females) evaluated within a month of trauma exposure. Multi-domain features that best differentiated cluster membership were indicated by using importance analysis, classification trees, and ANOVA. Results revealed that entorhinal and rostral anterior cingulate cortices volumes (structural domain), in-task amygdala’s functional connectivity with the insula and thalamus (functional domain), executive function and cognitive flexibility (cognitive domain) best differentiated between two clusters related to PTSD severity. Cross-validation established the results’ robustness and consistency within this sample. Multi-domain biomarkers revealed by the 3C analytics offer objective classifiers of post-traumatic morbidity shortly following trauma. They also map onto previously documented neurobehavioral PTSD features, supporting the future use of standardized and objective measurements to more precisely identify psychopathology subgroups shortly after trauma.

scholarly journals Treatment of adult post-traumatic stress disorder using a future-oriented writing therapy approach

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reginald D. V. Nixon ◽  
Leonard W. Kling
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Ptsd Severity

AbstractThe aim of this pilot study was to test whether a future-oriented expressive writing intervention is able to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity and associated symptoms such as depression and unhelpful trauma-related beliefs. In an uncontrolled pre-/ post-design participants attended 8 weeks of manualized therapy. Assessment was undertaken pre- and post-treatment, and participants also completed a 3-month follow-up assessment. Of the 17 participants who began therapy, 13 were treatment completers. Results indicated a significant decrease in PTSD severity, depression and unhelpful trauma-related cognitions from pre- to post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Clinically meaningful change was more modest; however, three participants reported PTSD remission at 3-month follow-up. It is concluded that expressive writing with a focus on achieving future goals and personal change may have some utility in reducing post-traumatic stress but future research will need to investigate this with greater methodological rigour before firm conclusions can be made.

Treating post-traumatic stress disorder in the ‘real world’: evaluation of a specialist trauma service and adaptations to standard treatment approaches

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damon Lab ◽  
Ines Santos ◽  
Felicity de Zulueta
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Trauma Service ◽  
Social Difficulties ◽  
Post Traumatic

Aims and MethodTo evaluate the effectiveness of treatment at the Traumatic Stress Service (TSS) by comparing pre- and post-treatment scores on patient self-report measures. Through a questionnaire survey, to explore therapists' views of problems presenting in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how, as a result, they adapted their approach to trauma work.ResultsTherapists reported that their patients present with a range of complex problems, and self-report measures show that patients suffer particularly high levels of psychopathology. Therapists identified a number of adaptations to trauma-focused work to deal with these additional problems. Of the 112 patients who completed therapy, 43% filled in pre- and post-treatment questionnaire measures. Analysis showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in levels of PTSD, depression and social functioning.Clinical ImplicationsThe typical presentation of trauma survivors is often not ‘simple’ PTSD, but PTSD resulting from chronic and multiple traumas and complicated by additional psychological and social difficulties. Adaptations to trauma-focused work can successfully treat such ‘complex’ PTSD.

Is plasma GABA level a biomarker of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) severity? A preliminary study

2016 ◽  
Vol 241 ◽  
pp. 273-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Trousselard ◽  
Bertrand Lefebvre ◽  
Lionel Caillet ◽  
Yann Andruetan ◽  
Franck de Montleau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Gaba Level ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Ptsd Severity

scholarly journals Neuroanatomical Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Recent Trauma Survivors

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (9) ◽  
pp. S422
Author(s):  
Ziv Ben-Zion ◽  
Moran Artzi ◽  
Dana Niry ◽  
Nimrod Jakob Kenyan ◽  
Yoav Zeevi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

scholarly journals Perceptual processing advantages for trauma-related visual cues in post-traumatic stress disorder

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kleim ◽  
T. Ehring ◽  
A. Ehlers
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Perceptual Processing ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Post Traumatic

BackgroundIntrusive re-experiencing in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comprises distressing sensory impressions from the trauma that seem to occur ‘out of the blue’. A key question is how intrusions are triggered. One possibility is that PTSD is characterized by a processing advantage for stimuli that resemble those that accompanied the trauma, which would lead to increased detection of such cues in the environment.MethodWe used a blurred picture identification task in a cross-sectional (n=99) and a prospective study (n=221) of trauma survivors.ResultsParticipants with acute stress disorder (ASD) or PTSD, but not trauma survivors without these disorders, identified trauma-related pictures, but not general threat pictures, better than neutral pictures. There were no group differences in the rate of trauma-related answers to other picture categories. The relative processing advantage for trauma-related pictures correlated with re-experiencing and dissociation, and predicted PTSD at follow-up.ConclusionsA perceptual processing bias for trauma-related stimuli may contribute to the involuntary triggering of intrusive trauma memories in PTSD.

Naturalistic Comparison of Models of Programmatic Interventions for Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 1051-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Forbes ◽  
Virginia Lewis ◽  
Ruth Parslow ◽  
Graeme Hawthorne ◽  
Mark Creamer
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Ptsd Severity

Objectives: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a difficult-to-treat sequel of combat. Data on effectiveness of alternate treatment structures are important for planning veterans’ psychiatric services. The present study compared clinical presentations and treatment outcomes for Australian veterans with PTSD who participated in a range of models of group-based treatment. Method: Participants consisted of 4339 veterans with combat-related PTSD who participated in one of five types of group-based cognitive behavioural programmes of different intensities and settings. Data were gathered at baseline (intake), as well as at 3 and 9 month follow up, on measures of PTSD, anxiety, depression and alcohol misuse. Analyses of variance and effect size analyses were used to investigate differences at intake and over time by programme type. Results: Small baseline differences by programme intensity were identified. Although significant improvements in symptoms were evident over time for each programme type, no significant differences in outcome were evident between programmes. When PTSD severity was considered, veterans with severe PTSD performed less well in the low-intensity programmes than in the moderate- or high-intensity programmes. Veterans with mild PTSD improved less in high-intensity programmes than in moderate- or low-intensity programmes. Conclusion: Comparable outcomes are evident across programme types. Outcomes may be maximized when veterans participate in programme intensity types that match their level of PTSD severity. When such matching is not feasible, moderate-intensity programmes appear to offer the most consistent outcomes. For regionally based veterans, delivering treatment in their local environment does not detract from, and may even enhance, outcomes. These findings have implications for the planning and purchasing of mental health services for sufferers of PTSD, particularly for veterans of more recent combat or peacekeeping deployments.

Fluoxetine in post-traumatic stress disorder

1999 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Connor ◽  
Suzanne M. Sutherland ◽  
Larry A. Tupler ◽  
Mary L. Malik ◽  
R. Jonathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
State Function ◽  
Global Rating ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Global Improvement ◽  
Stress Vulnerability ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Ptsd Severity

BackgroundMost pharmacotherapy trials in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been conducted upon male combat veterans. Outcome studies relating to civilians are therefore needed.AimsTo demonstrate that fluoxetine is more effective than placebo in treating PTSD.MethodCivilians with PTSD (n=53) were treated for 12 weeks with fluoxetine (up to 60 mg/day) or placebo. Assessments of PTSD severity, disability, stress vulnerability, and high end-state function were obtained.ResultsFluoxetine was more effective than placebo on most measures at week 12, including global improvement (much or very much improved: fluoxetine 85%, placebo 62%, difference 0.24, 95% CI 0.01–0.47; very much improved: fluoxetine 59%, placebo 19%, difference 0.40, 95% CI 0.16–0.64), and high end-state function (fluoxetine 41%, placebo 4%, difference 0.37, 95% CI 0.17–0.57)ConclusionsFluoxetine was superior for measures of PTSD severity, disability, stress vulnerability, and high end-state function. The placebo-group response was low when viewed as a broad outcome based on a portfolio of ratings, but was higher with a traditional global rating criterion.

scholarly journals Social ecology interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder: what can we learn from child soldiers?

2013 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Kohrt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Social Ecology ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Child Soldiers ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

SummaryResearch with child soldiers is crucial to improving mental health services after war. This research also can illuminate innovative approaches to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adult soldiers, veterans and other trauma survivors in high-income countries. A key contribution is the role of social ecology for trauma-healing interventions.

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