It looks like the drug known as Ecstasy is making a comeback. But wait – I don’t mean in underground clubs or at college parties, but rather in the unlikely spot of a health care clinic. A new study is revealing that use of Ecstasy (otherwise known as MDMA), in addition to talk therapy, may relieve some of the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. We have previously discussed how marijuana may also help people suffering from the condition, but now it appears that Ecstasy may also provide similar therapeutic benefits.
Read more on MDMA may be a viable option for treating PTSD, research suggests…
Filed under Alternative PTSD treatment, PTSD research by on Apr 28th, 2010. Comment. 
It seems that we discuss the impact of PTSD on “regular” individuals less than we discuss how PTSD affects veterans. Additionally, it is not often that the treatment of these ordinary citizens possibly leads to an eventual treatment for our troops (it is usually the other way around). But anyone can experience an event or series of events that causes them to develop post traumatic stress disorder. The Chicago Tribune recently published an article detailing how one woman was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after she was a victim of an armed robbery. The experience left her battling anxiety and panic attacks, eventually leading her to drop out of school and gain weight despite therapy. She finally went to Dr. Eugene Lipov with Advanced Pain Centers in Illinois. He gave her an injection of a local anesthetic, bupivicane, and her disorder improved significantly. Now, Dr. Lipov is attempting to use this unique treatment option on a broad range of post traumatic stress sufferers, including veterans.
Filed under Alternative PTSD treatment, PTSD research by on Apr 16th, 2010. Comment.
Even some states legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, exactly what constitutes a medical purpose can vary widely from state to state. Recently, New Mexico legalized medical marijuana use, noting that it could be used to treat symptoms of cancer and other terminal, chronic diseases. It also extends its use to those who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. This, however, is considered by many to be a controversial use of the marijuana, and one state that legalized medical marijuana use over ten years ago, Colorado, refuses to allow its use for post traumatic stress disorder. So, what makes two states that agree on legalizing pot for medical purposes differ so radically on using it for a recognized, debilitating condition like PTSD?
Filed under Alternative PTSD treatment, PTSD as a recognized medical condition by on Apr 1st, 2010. Comment.
Although researchers and doctors are continuously trying to develop new and innovative treatment options for people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, it may be that one of the most effective therapies is a healing art that is centuries old. A new study, reported by the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, shows that acupuncture has great, beneficial effects on the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder. The study, led by researchers from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, found that acupuncture provided benefits to the disorder that were similar to those found in cognitive behavioral therapy. What is more is that the military also seems to readily accept this non-traditional medical intervention method.
Filed under ptsd treatment by on Mar 19th, 2010. Comment.
Although any traumatic event can trigger post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), most of those who suffer with the condition are military veterans. With the number of conflicts that the United States has been party of in the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in those military personnel who are diagnosed with the disorder. The military and the Department of Veteran Affairs have been developing new treatment options across the country to adequately keep up with the demand for mental health services. Surprisingly, however, many veterans are not completing the full course of necessary treatment according to a study published in the most current issue of the Journal of Traumatic Stress.
Read more on Many veterans diagnosed with PTSD failing to seek adequate treatment…
Filed under PTSD research, ptsd treatment by on Feb 22nd, 2010. Comment.
