scholarly journals Will MDMA-assisted psychotherapy become a breakthrough in treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder? Critical narrative review.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Sandra Szafoni ◽  
Gniewko Więckiewicz ◽  
Robert Pudlo ◽  
Piotr Gorczyca ◽  
Magdalena Piegza
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Post Traumatic

Exploring a post-traumatic stress disorder paradigm in Flinders sensitive line rats to model treatment-resistant depression II: response to antidepressant augmentation strategies

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarel Jacobus Brand ◽  
Brian Herbert Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Treatment Resistant Depression ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Sensitive Line ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Resistant Depression ◽  
Flinders Sensitive Line

ObjectivePost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) displays high co-morbidity with major depression and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Earlier work demonstrated exaggerated depressive-like symptoms in a gene×environment model of TRD and an abrogated response to imipramine. We extended the investigation by studying the behavioural and monoaminergic response to multiple antidepressants, viz. venlafaxine and ketamine with/without imipramine.MethodsMale Flinders sensitive line (FSL) rats, a genetic model of depression, were exposed to a time-dependent sensitisation (TDS) model of PTSD and compared with stress naive controls. 7 days after the TDS procedures, immobility and coping (swimming and climbing), behaviours in the forced swim test (FST) as well as hippocampal and cortical 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) and noradrenaline (NA) levels were analysed. Response to imipramine, venlafaxine and ketamine treatment (all 10 mg/kg×7 days) alone and in combination were subsequently studied.ResultsTDS exacerbated depressive-like behaviour of FSL rats in the FST. Imipramine, venlafaxine and ketamine were ineffective as monotherapy in TDS-exposed FSL rats. However, combining imipramine with either venlafaxine or ketamine resulted in significant anti-immobility effects and enhanced coping behaviours. Only ketamine+imipramine (frontal-cortical 5HIAA and NA), ketamine alone (frontal-cortical and hippocampal NA) and venlafaxine+imipramine (frontal-cortical NA) altered monoamine responses versus untreated TDS-exposed FSL rats.ConclusionExposure of FSL rats to TDS inhibits antidepressant response at behavioural and neurochemical levels. Congruent with TRD, imipramine plus venlafaxine or ketamine overcame treatment resistance in these animals. These data further support the hypothesis that exposure of FSL rats to a PTSD-like paradigm produces a valid animal model of TRD and warrants further investigation.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—The Neurofeedback Remedy

Biofeedback ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried Othmer ◽  
Susan F. Othmer
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Optimization Procedure ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Case Histories ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Symptom Response ◽  
Post Traumatic

Abstract The application of neurofeedback to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning veterans is described herein and is illustrated with two case histories. Initially, frequency-based electroencephalogram training was employed to promote functional recovery, in the manner of the traditional sensorimotor rhythm/beta approach. An optimization procedure was employed in which the reinforcement frequency is tailored to the client on the basis of symptom response, with particular regard for the regulation of arousal. Low frequencies, down to .01 Hz, have been found especially useful in the remediation of post-traumatic stress disorder. This training was complemented with traditional alpha-theta work as pioneered at the Menninger Foundation and by Peniston. The objective here is experiential, because prior traumas typically are revisited in a nonforced, nontraumatic manner. The benign witnessing of traumas consolidates the experience of safety for which the prior training laid the groundwork. Collectively, this approach has been found to be much better tolerated than traditional exposure therapies. In addition, it is helpful in the shedding of substance dependencies that are common in treatment-resistant PTSD

Exploring a post-traumatic stress disorder paradigm in Flinders sensitive line rats to model treatment-resistant depression I: bio-behavioural validation and response to imipramine

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarel Jacobus Brand ◽  
Brian Herbert Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Treatment Resistant Depression ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Sensitive Line ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Resistant Depression ◽  
Flinders Sensitive Line

ObjectiveCo-morbid depression with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often treatment resistant. In developing a preclinical model of treatment-resistant depression (TRD), we combined animal models of depression and PTSD to produce an animal with more severe as well as treatment-resistant depressive-like behaviours.MethodsMale Flinders sensitive line (FSL) rats, a genetic animal model of depression, were exposed to a stress re-stress model of PTSD [time-dependent sensitisation (TDS)] and compared with stress-naive controls. Seven days after TDS stress, depressive-like and coping behaviours as well as hippocampal and cortical noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) levels were analysed. Response to sub-chronic imipramine treatment (IMI; 10 mg/kg s.c.×7 days) was subsequently studied.ResultsFSL rats demonstrated bio-behavioural characteristics of depression. Exposure to TDS stress in FSL rats correlated negatively with weight gain, while demonstrating reduced swimming behaviour and increased immobility versus unstressed FSL rats. IMI significantly reversed depressive-like (immobility) behaviour and enhanced active coping behaviour (swimming and climbing) in FSL rats. The latter was significantly attenuated in FSL rats exposed to TDS versus unstressed FSL rats. IMI reversed reduced 5HIAA levels in unstressed FSL rats, whereas exposure to TDS negated this effect. Lowered NA levels in FSL rats were sustained after TDS with IMI significantly reversing this in the hippocampus.ConclusionCombining a gene-X-environment model of depression with a PTSD paradigm produces exaggerated depressive-like symptoms that display an attenuated response to antidepressant treatment. This work confirms combining FSL rats with TDS exposure as a putative animal model of TRD.

scholarly journals Making a medicine out of MDMA

2015 ◽  
Vol 206 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Sessa ◽  
David Nutt
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Clinical Utility ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
The Past ◽  
Post Traumatic

SummaryFrom its first use 3,4,-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been recognised as a drug with therapeutic potential. Research on its clinical utility stopped when it entered the recreational drug scene but has slowly resurrected in the past decade. Currently there is enough evidence for MDMA to be removed from its Schedule 1 status of ‘no medical use’ and moved into Schedule 2 (alongside other misused but useful medicines such as heroin and amphetamine). Such a regulatory move would liberate its use as a medicine for patients experiencing severe mental illnesses such as treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.

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