Potential of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to attract both empirical and clinical interest due to its complex symptom profile and the underlying processes involved. Recently, research attention has been focused on the types of memory processes involved in PTSD and hypothesized neurobiological processes. Complicating this exploration, and the treatment of PTSD, are underlying comorbid disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Treatment of PTSD has undergone further reviews with the introduction of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

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Posttraumatic stress disorder

Currently, under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified within the new category of trauma and stressor-related disorders. PTSD frequently presents with fear and anxiety and most prior research has conceptualized PTSD as an anxiety disorder. This chapter discusses the epidemiological studies on prevalence of both potentially traumatic events and PTSD. It also deals with the natural course of the disorder, risk factors, functioning/impairment, commonly comorbid disorders, and differential diagnosis.

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Posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence: Does order of onset make a difference?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence (AD) are frequently comorbid and the order in which they develop may affect the clinical presentation and response to treatment. This study compared 73 treatment-seeking participants who developed PTSD prior to developing AD ('PTSD-first') with 64 participants who developed AD prior to developing PTSD ('AD-first') on demographics, clinical presentation, and response to treatment for PTSD and AD.

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Pharmacotherapy in the aftermath of trauma, opportunities in the 'golden hours'

Several lines of research have demonstrated that memories for fearful events become transiently labile upon re-exposure. Activation of molecular mechanisms is required in order to maintain retrieved information. This process is called reconsolidation. Targeting reconsolidation - as in exposure-based psychotherapy - offers therefore a potentially interesting tool to manipulate fear memories, and subsequently to treat disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Partner accommodation in posttraumatic stress disorder: Initial testing of the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with myriad relationship problems and psychological distress in partners of individuals with PTSD. This study sought to develop a self-report measure of partner accommodation to PTSD (i.e., ways in which partners alter their behavior in response to patient PTSD symptoms), the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS), and to investigate its reliability and construct validity in 46 treatment-seeking couples. The SORTS demonstrated strong internal consistency and associations with individual and relationship distress.

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Lessons learned from Dutch deployed surgeons and anesthesiologists to Afghanistan: 2006-2010

INTRODUCTION: Care for battle casualties demands special skills from surgeons and anesthesiologists. The experiences of Dutch military surgeons and anesthesiologists that deployed to South Afghanistan provided an opportunity to evaluate predeployment training and preparation of military medical specialistsMETHOD: A survey was conducted among all surgeons and anesthesiologists (n = 40) that deployed to South Afghanistan between February 2006 and November 2010.

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In memoriam: Edward J. Frischholz, PhD, January 14, 1956-May 10, 2014

We sadly lost our friend and colleague Edward J. (“Fast Eddie”) Frischholz, PhD, at the young age of 58. He died of heart failure, a complication of septic shock. He was a passionate advocate for the field of hypnosis, a tough monitor of its quality, a fine clinician, and an excellent researcher/statistician.

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Indications of an altered one-carbon metabolism in chronic posttraumatic stress disorder

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Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans with Reintegration Problems: Differences by Veterans Affairs Healthcare User Status

We studied 1,292 Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans who participated in a clinical trial of expressive writing to estimate the prevalence of perceived reintegration difficulty and compare Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare users to nonusers in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. About half of participants perceived reintegration difficulty. VA users and nonusers differed in age and military background. Levels of mental and physical problems were higher in VA users.

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Executive function in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the influence of comorbid depression

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with neurocognitive deficits, such as impaired verbal memory and executive functioning. Less is known about executive function and the role of comorbid depression in PTSD.

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