Recently, the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) School of Medicine received a $60 million dollar grant for a five-year study to determine better prevention and treatment methods of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) among American victims and war veterans/soldiers.
The study, which is funded by the Department of Defense Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program (DoD PH/TBI), will test new therapies to "prevent illness and enhance recovery in individuals at risk for adverse psychological, emotional and cognitive outcomes" caused by TBI and PTSD, according to UC news release.
What is PTSD and TBI?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD is defined as "an anxiety disorder that develops after a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened."
Approximately 7.7 million U.S. adults suffer from the condition, and this figure is only increasing as American veterans return home facing physical, mental and emotional stress and challenges from a combination of TBI and PTSD.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) confirms that TBI is what is known as an "acquired brain injury or simple head injury" that has occurred after a trauma or blunt force negatively impacts the brain. An individual can often suffer from TBI in a mild to severe manner and most recently, more Americans who have served in the Iraq War are suffering from TBI after returning home. In fact, some researchers have stated that TBI is the signature wound of the war in Iraq.
Living with TBI, PTSD Symptoms and Side Effects
There are an array of symptoms characterize both conditions, and, the symptoms often overlap one another. The side effects commonly associated with TBI can be severe and may include the following, according to the NINDS:
* Headache
* Dizziness
* Convulsions
* Lightheadedness
* Confusion
* Blurred vision
* Ringing in the ears
* Bad taste in the mouth
* Fatigue and lethargy
* Sleep disruptions
* Behavioral or mood changes
* Amnesia/memory troubles
* Inability to concentrate
* Difficulty paying attention
* Nausea
* Slurred speech
* Extremity numbness
* Loss of coordination
* Restlessness
* Agitation
PTSD side effects fall into three main categories, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The categories include repeated/reliving symptoms, avoidance symptoms and arousal symptoms. The repeated PTSD symptoms are:
* Reoccurring stress
* Reoccurring memories of a traumatic event
* Physical reactions to a traumatic event
* Flashback episodes of the traumatic occurrence
The PTSD avoidance symptoms include:
* Emotional numbness
* The feeling of having no future
* The inability to remember important aspects of life
* Avoidance of people, places and objects
* Feelings of detachment
* Less emotion/expression of moods
Finally, the PTSD symptoms that fall under the arousal category are:
* Inability to concentrate
* Exaggerated emotions or responses when startled
* Hypervigilance
* Outbursts of anger and irritability
* Difficulties sleeping
PTSD victims may also find that they suffer from additional symptoms including:
* Paleness
* Fever
* Headache
* Chest Palpitations
* Dizziness
* Excitability
* Agitation
* Fainting
It is advisable for patients suffering from both brain injury-related conditions to seek medical attention, even if symptoms may not be present, the long-term effects of TBI can be severe. According to the Brain Injury Association of Americans, at least 1.4 million Americans suffer from TBI annually, nearly 50,000 die and 235,000 are hospitalized. However, it is unknown how many individuals suffer from TBI and go untreated.
Because of the severity of TBI/PTSD and the interference it can have on an victim's life, it is possible for a traumatic brain injury victim to develop litigation. A traumatic brain injury lawsuit may provide a victim with the monetary compensation they need to pay for costly medical bills and TBI treatments. To learn more about the development of TBI lawsuit, consult with an experienced TBI attorney who will often offer a free legal consultation.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Statistics
They suffer from post traumatic stress disorder continue to experience the trauma in one way or another. To avoid re-experiencing the trauma, they tend to avoid people, places and everything that reminds them of the event. In fact, are very sensitive to incidents of regular life. This condition has been in existence since we began to suffer trauma.
If the post-traumatic stress disorder is not treated, the person's mental health can have dire consequences and extensive in their relationships with family, friends and society.
In general, women who were sexually abused as children are more susceptible to PTSD. Also children born to mothers with PTSD during pregnancy are more likely to develop hypertension in later life. The mental health of adolescents and children suffering from PTSD may have significant adverse effects on how they treat their emotional and social development, including the ability to learn.
PTSD is a mental health has sent a lot of presence from the end of the war in Vietnam. Despite having a presence, people are not carrying out the conditions and their impact on people who have it. The anxiety is said to be the main cause for PTSD. Found that military personnel are more likely to develop as many deaths are in line of duty every day.
Who Gets PTSD?
Children, women and men all tend to develop the disorder. However, the mental health of people who have suffered severe or experienced a serious accident, sexual abuse, rape, terrorist attacks and the fight against natural disasters tend to be affected.
Symptoms:
When a person undergoes an extreme condition or event, such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks, it is common for normal people feel fear feel tense, angry and even embarrassed. These feelings are normal and expected by anyone. However, when these feelings continue for a long period disturbing,
PTSD may have developed. Basically, the specialist suggested that if these feelings persist for more than a month and begin to cause excessive intervention, with the normal day everyday, you are a victim of PTSD.
Similarly below are some symptoms that illustrate this situation:
Re-experiencing the trauma:
Many people with PTSD continue to experience the events of the time of trauma and again. Usually, these flashbacks take the victim in this situation. He or she feels like she is going through the trauma again, in real time. They may even feel the pain he has caused by that event.
Evasion:
Victims of PTSD, and I always try to avoid all possible causes at any cost. They try to avoid even movies that are related to particular topic. Avoid going to places that remind them of the traumatic event.
The lack of sensitivity:
People with PTSD begin to feel very differently to situations that are and act differently. Lack sensitivity to the situation we are in.
The refusal to abandon their loved ones:
This symptom is very common among children. They tend to be only with their parents or the person they love most. The mental health of people suffering post-traumatic stress disorder is a very sad situation that could put-off from his life for an indefinite period. Fortunately, most of them were victims of this condition have done well to triumph over it in due course. In general, you have to go through therapy to get out of the trauma and live life as it is.
Treatment
The most important treatment for patients with PTSD are psychotherapy, medication or both. Everyone is different, so a treatment that works for one person does not work for others. It is important that all people with PTSD by a mental health provider attended with PTSD experienced. Some people with PTSD need to try different treatments to find out what your symptoms.
If someone with PTSD is an ongoing trauma, as in a violent relationship, which must be addressed both problems. Other concerns are the ongoing panic disorder, depression, drug abuse and suicidal thoughts.
Both Katie Kelley & Seomul Evans are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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