Can a Few Sprays of Oxytocin Improve Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Intranasal oxytocin may be a safe and effective pharmacological mechanism for improving effectiveness of trauma-focused psychotherapies—but caution is warranted.

The hormone oxytocin is well known for its effects on social and reproductive processes. Intranasal oxytocin (IN OT) has made a splash in the media and scientific community because of its potential for treating autism, schizophrenia, social anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While sometimes lauded as a panacea, IN OT is not without its critics (Leng & Ludwig, 2016), and for good reasons.

Odor-induced recall of emotional memories in PTSD : Review and new paradigm for research

It is clinically well known that olfactory intrusions in PTSD can be a disabling phenomena due to the involuntary recall of odor memories. Odorants can trigger involuntary recall of emotional memories as well have the potential to help diminishing emotional arousal as grounding stimuli. Despite major advances in our understanding of the function of olfactory system, the study of the relation of olfaction and emotional memory is still relatively scarce.

Authors' reply

Dr Halvorsen quite rightly draws attention to the various definitions of clinically significant change, which all have their advantages and disadvantages. We especially agree with the comment that the threshold for clinically significant change should at least coincide with the threshold for reliable change (18.66 in our sample).

Improving the understanding and treatment of complex grief: an important issue for psychotraumatology

In the Netherlands, every year 500,000 people are confronted with the death of a close relative. Many of these people experience little emotional distress. In some, bereavement precipitates severe grief, distress, and dysphoria.

A small yet significant minority of bereaved individuals develops persistent and debilitating symptoms of persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD) (also termed prolonged grief disorder), posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression.

Knowledge about early identification of, and preventive care for complex grief has increased.

Special issue : Trauma occurs in social contexts

With this special issue that presents highlights of the biennial psychotrauma conference in Europe with contributions from experts inside and outside Europe, we hope to boost future research on the role of the broader social context in which trauma occurs.

The effects of eye movements on emotional memories : using an objective measure of cognitive load

Background: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. The working memory (WM) theory explains its efficacy: recall of an aversive memory and making eye movements (EM) both produce cognitive load, and competition for the limited WM resources reduces the memory’s vividness and emotionality. The present study tested several predictions from WM theory.

Blurring emotional memories using eye movements : individual differences and speed of eye movements

Background: In eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), patients make eye movements (EM) while recalling traumatic memories. Making EM taxes working memory (WM), which leaves less resources available for imagery of the memory. This reduces memory vividness and emotionality during future recalls. WM theory predicts that individuals with small working memory capacities (WMCs) benefit more from low levels of taxing (i.e., slow EM) whereas individuals with large WMC benefit more from high levels of taxing (i.e., fast EM).

Erasing memory traces of trauma with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy

With its open access character, the European Journal of Psychotraumatology aims to promote evidence-based treatments around the world, while at the same time welcoming new forms of treatment without losing its critical scientific eye. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is by now a well-established treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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