PTSD in the News: Weekly Roundup

A lot of news this week for both civilians and military alike, including surf therapy, novels that explore PTSD, secondary PTSD, a program that retrains vets as police officers and a hearing that spotlights the needs of female vets. Happy reading!

Topics for Everyone

Hotel Bombing Survivors May Suffer Long-term Trauma – “Some victims cry and yell to vent their anger, some keep the hurt inside and try to block the dark memories form their minds. It takes professional help to assess and measure the extent of their mental trauma,” Setiawan said.

Blanket Support for Trauma Victims Not the Best Way to Prevent PTSD – Researchers found no evidence to support offering interventions to everyone involved in a traumatic event. In fact, they found that some forms of blanket intervention might foster worse outcomes than no intervention whatsoever.

Injured Vets and the Disabled Travel to CA for Surf Therapy – Disabled veterans, local disabled, a Para-Olympian and wounded active duty servicemen from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas are traveling to Pismo Beach, California, August 13 – 20, 2009 to experience the thrill and healing power of surfing. Most of these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines lost limbs, were burned, or have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from serving in operations overseas. The Association of Amputee Surfers (Ampsurf) along with professional and local surfers will provide the instruction for Operation Restoration IV.

Can Brains Be Saved? – In a groundbreaking study released last December, researchers at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center in Washington followed 360 injured veterans in a clinical trial. They found that cognitive treatment that taught people how to think through tasks enhanced their cognitive recovery.

PTSD, Fact & Fiction – A new novel examines the psychic cost of war.

Secondary PTSD – Many loved ones who are close to veterans have symptoms of what local psychotherapist Trish Dittrick calls Secondary PTSD.

Pioneering Online Treatment for PTSD – Preliminary post-treatment findings published in the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy journal, showed participants experienced significant reductions in PTSD clinical severity and related symptoms.

Changes in Relative Glucose Metabolic Rate Following Cortisol Administration – The magnitude of improvement in working memory correlated with greater hemispheric laterality in the dorsal amygdala following HCORT in both groups. The restorative effects of HCORT on metabolism and working memory provide a rationale for examining the therapeutic benefits of glucocorticoid manipulation in aging PTSD patients.

Hyperemesis: Uncommon Pregnancy Symptom – Leads to high risk for PTSD.

Combat PTSD

Vet Casing: A Soldier’s Memoir of Sarajevo Under Seige – When the war ended and Fred returned to Canada, another war began. He had terrible nightmares and flashbacks of the horrors from the Bosnian War. Fred was suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). This memoir recounts his time in Bosnia and how he overcame and adjusted to life with PTSD.

Blood Test to Predict PTSD? – Allostatix is hoping to make a deal with the military to show that a simple blood test can predict which soldiers will struggle most with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Mental Health Issues Among Veterans Increase dramatically – The New York Times reports: “A new study has found that more than one-third of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who enrolled in the veterans health system after 2001 received a diagnosis of a mental health problem, most often post-traumatic stress disorder or depression.

Ethical issues of doctors, the VA and Combat PTSD vets – A VA psychiatrist hospitalized Juneman but never notified the National Guard unit of his patient’s distress over redeployment.

Ever wondered who to contact in Washington to lobby for PTSD vet issues? A good list can be found here.

Financial Planning, PTSD Privacy & Sesame Street — helping the military family move forward.

Texas Offers PTSD Help – According to a new report, more than 40 percent of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from mental health disorders, many with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Veterans Affairs Hospitals says there is help available in Central Texas.

Them Bones – PTSD treatment and advocacy for vets.

Hope4Heroes.org Seeking Support – hope4heroes is in dire need of an RV or bus for a national outreach that provides on the spot emergency aid and mobile PTSD and suicide prevention support platform.

Healing Soldiers’ Hidden Wounds – What started as a program for veterans of Vietnam and has grown to include those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Cimini’s Yoga Warriors program uses the tenets of the meditative discipline to teach coping strategies for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Turning Combat Vets into Cops – Facilitating the cadet transformation.

Faith Groups Reach Out to Help Vets – Minnesota is one of only a handful of states that do not have an active military base. Perhaps this has inspired us to be more innovative in ways to deliver services to members of the armed forces and their families.

Hearing Spotlights Immediate Needs of Nation’s Female Vets – Last Thursday, Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Chairman John Hall (D-NY) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael Michaud (D-ME) conducted a joint hearing to assess the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide care and services to the country’s 1.8 million women veterans.

(Photo: Cris)

Tags: injured vets, online treatment ptsd, PTSD in the News, secondary ptsd, surf therapy, survivors suffer long term trauma