How Effective is PTSD Treatment When it Comes to Seeking Safety?

The term PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is actually not a medical term at all. It actually just refers to the symptoms of the condition. It is said that back in the 1990s, American psychiatrists first noticed that some people would develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when they experienced a horrible event. These people would experience a range of symptoms after experiencing the incident. Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, flashbacks of the incident and intrusive memories. Some people would experience physical symptoms like muscle spasms, headaches, stomachaches and diarrhea.

There have been several studies on the relationship between PTSD and substance use. The studies have shown that post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse go hand in hand. The research also showed that women are more likely to suffer from PTSD than men and that it is more common among those who have served in the Armed Forces.

A study done by Kaiser Permanente successfully controlled for these factors and found that those patients who had PTSD were at significantly greater risk of having substance use disorders. In addition, those who had co-occurring post traumatic stress disorder and a substance use disorder were at even higher risk. The researchers attributed the findings to the fact that PTSD makes people feel like they constantly need to escape harmful situations while in truth, the situations really do pose a threat to their well being.

Common symptoms of PTSD include insomnia, irritability, depression, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness and moodiness. Substance use disorders can include alcoholism, marijuana, cocaine, crack, meth abuse, inhalants, ecstasy, heroin use and cigarette smoking. Most researchers believe that a combination of PTSD, co-occurring post traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders results in more severe and frequent symptoms. The severity of the symptoms can vary from mild to severe.

Because PTSD often occurs in people with a traumatic event in their past, those who suffer from it are not mentally healthy. According to the World Health Organization, PTSD is considered a mental health disorder that warrants further study. Researchers believe that there is a strong genetic component to PTSD that can be influenced by genetics, early life experiences and brain chemistry. There is also evidence to suggest that PTSD can occur in individuals predisposed to depression or other emotional disorders. These studies are still ongoing and researchers are uncertain as to whether PTSD is a disease or an illness.

Several studies have attempted to rigorously test the effects of PTSD on standardized measurements of depression and other psychological disorders. The most widely used depression measure is the HDL (Harmful Events Scale), which measures the level of sadness experienced over the previous two weeks. Because researchers are not certain as to how PTSD influences rates of depression, many trials have been planned using placebo medications. However, because researchers do not know which treatments work and which do not, placebo medications are generally not offered to PTSD patients. In addition, because all patients are given the same drug, there is no way to determine which trials are more effective than others, which complicates the problem of choosing an appropriate treatment for co-occurring ptsd.

In addition to treating PTSD symptoms, psychotherapy is also recommended in order to treat co-occurring disorders. The principle at work here is that if we treat one disorder, we can likely reduce the chances that other disorders will become problematic. This holds true for disorders like depression and substance abuse, where studies have indicated a link between repeated abuse and depressive disorders that go along with it. It is also the case that therapies that address these disorders may reduce the chances of experiencing symptoms of PTSD during exposure to traumatic events.

Unfortunately, the results of research concerning PTSD and co-occurring disorders have been less profound than researchers would like. In general, researchers have not found that PTSD therapy works particularly well for those who have had a history of depression, especially when depression is an early or part of the condition. These researchers also have noted that therapies that focus on depressive symptoms do not seem to be particularly helpful for those who have had or are currently experiencing sud symptoms. However, when depression is present, the chances of success of this type of treatment increases, making it an attractive option for many people in need of help. The benefits of seeking safety from depression may be especially significant for those who are presently living with a co-occurring disorder that directly affects mood. Suicidal thoughts and attempts are always more serious for those who are depressed and seeking safety in the face of increased stress or anxiety.

Ann Miller

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