Further Evidence Points to Brain’s Chemical Change in Patient’s with PTSD

Although the exact reason behind PTSD is still largely unknown, two recent studies suggest that there is a definite chemical alteration to the brain following a traumatic event or events, which leads to post traumatic stress disorder.  If these studies and further research substantially conclude that a chemical change can be seen in patients suffering from PTSD, it may open up the possibility that the disease can be diagnosed, treated, and possibly predicted through blood tests and scans. This may also further add weight to the argument that PTSD is a legitimate basis for claiming SSDI benefits.

Individuals with PTSD have shown changes in neurosteroids, which are brain chemicals that influence how the body responds to stress.  Further, blood neurosteroids relate to brain neurosteroids, therefore researchers could measure the blood neurosteroids to indicate what the brain neurosteroids would be.  In one study, the researchers measured the blood neurosteroid levels of ninety Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, finding that the levels corresponded to the severity of the PTSD symptoms.  Additionally, further research showed that increasing neurosteroid levels often decreased PTSD symptoms.

In a second study, the researchers found that brain scans showed variations in brain images between those suffering from only PTSD and those suffering from PTSD in addition to other problems, such as alcoholism, depression, and suicidal tendencies.  These findings may help to treat an individual for all of his symptoms, rather than just one.  Additionally, it may also take away the stigma associated with PTSD.  If a person has a documentation of an actual neurobiological disorder, where the brain acts differently due to chemical make-up and circuitry, it may motivate them to seek help, pursue social security disability claims, and engage in treatment more readily.

These studies further shore up the evidence that PTSD is a result of a physical, chemical brain injury that happens when the brain is exposed to trauma.  This allows individuals to assert to a medical provider, disability specialist, or Judge that the difficulties they face as a result of PTSD are not easily controlled by their own volition, rather, their brain’s chemical make-up has been so altered as to cause uncontrollable actions.