PTSD treatment by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Alternative treatment for PTSD

Coined during the Vietnam War, the term post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is often used to describe the condition affecting soldiers returning home from war, for example, or that affecting individuals who have witnessed horrors such as the attack on the World Trade Center. Among battle-injured soldiers, the severity of their physical injuries is a significant predictor of the development of PTSD or depression several months later. Early psychiatric evaluations do not always identify those who will later develop these disorders. PTSD may be best known as a consequence of combat exposure, but people can also develop the disorder after suffering other types of trauma, such as a car crash or personal assault. There are a number of natural supplements that could help reduce stress. Some of these include Hydroxytryptophan, the serotonin precursor, Kava Kava, an herb from the South Pacific, and Passion-Flower, a gentle herb that helps you relax. Some people prefer an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. Taking half a capsule of Ashwagandha is one option. For those who have trouble relaxing at night and falling asleep, the occasional use of Good-Night-Rx is quite helpful. Discuss with your doctor if any of these are appropriate for you.

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Symptom of PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD include re-experiencing, by which sufferers relive the trauma they experienced through flashbacks or nightmares; avoidance, whereby affected individuals stay away from certain people, places, activities, or other reminders of the trauma; and arousal, as affected individuals are constantly on the alert for any signs of danger, have trouble sleeping or concentrating, and are easily startled.

PTSD and Heart Disease

Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is associated with increased levels of two coagulation (clotting) factors and may thereby promote atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Several studies have demonstrated the increased cardiovascular risk associated with PTSD, even years after the trauma. Suggested mediators of this relationship include unhealthy lifestyle, chronic low-grade inflammation, and blood clotting activation, but until now no one had investigated any link between PTSD and a "hypercoagulable" state. Symptoms associated with PTSD could lead to a hypercoagulable state, which could be of particular clinical importance in terms of an elevated cardiovascular risk and overall mortality several years down the line. Psychosomatic Medicine July/August 2006.

PTSD and military service
Women soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress, such as those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are best off directly confronting their wartime experiences in therapy. Women are more prone to PTSD than men and the incidence is particularly high among women who have served in the military. The disorder is triggered by traumatic experiences such as occur during combat, a natural disaster or a rape.

PTSD not just due to war

PTSD is not limited to troops on the battlefield; it can also affect patients with heart disease as well as those with other medical conditions. Individuals can also experience symptoms of PTSD after being diagnosed with cancer or some other serious illness, after undergoing some type of major surgery, or after experiencing heart trouble.

Guanfacine and PTSD
Guanfacine, a medication commonly prescribed to alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, is no more effective than a placebo, according to a study led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. "There was no benefit at all, and there were several adverse side effects," says lead author Thomas Neylan, MD, medical director of the PTSD treatment program at SFVAMC. "People with symptoms of PTSD should probably stay away from this drug and others of its type." The study appears in the December 1, 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Guanfacine belongs to a class of medications known as alpha-2 agonists, which lower the brain's supply of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit electrical signals between nerve cells. They are responsible for many aspects of behavior. Guanfacine and clonidine, another alpha-2 agonist, are commonly prescribed for PTSD symptoms. "There are at least 20 peer-reviewed articles published in the field of PTSD that recommend drugs which lower norepinephrine," Neylan says. "However, ours was the first randomized, controlled study of alpha-2 agonists for symptoms of PTSD."

PTSD and pain threshold
Military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD show reduced sensitivity to pain, and altered pain processing may be responsible.

PTSD questions
Q. Would Mind Power Rx product be suitable for a patient recovering from post traumatic stress PTSD? My symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, sleep problems, depression, irritability and difficulty concentrating.
   A. We have not tested this product for PTSD, hence we don't know.
 

Q. I heard that guanfacine was good for PTSD.
   A. The antihypertensive drug guanfacine, which lowers brain norepinephrine activity, does not reduce the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD.