Recently, we found that greater norepinephrine transporter (NET) availability in the locus coeruleus of trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was associated with increased severity of anxious arousal (i.e., hypervigilance and exaggerated startle) symptoms, but not any of the other empirically-derived symptom clusters that characterize this disorder.1 This finding suggests t...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate psychological stress in parents of children with esophageal atresia and to explore factors associated with the development of Posttraumatic Stress disorder (PTSD). DESIGN Self-report questionnaires were administered to parents of children with EA. Domains included: (1) sociodemographic data, current personal difficulties, assessment scales fo...

Individuals in the military are often required to endure high levels of stress as a result of demanding operational requirements or deployments. Individuals who enter the military with pre-existing mental health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to be at heightened risk of adverse reactions to military stressors. The present study documents the prevalence of PTSD ...

Individuals in the military are often required to endure high levels of stress as a result of demanding operational requirements or deployments. Individuals who enter the military with pre-existing mental health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to be at heightened risk of adverse reactions to military stressors. The present study documents the prevalence of PTSD ...

LAY SUMMARY Military personnel and Veterans receiving psychotherapy for mental health diagnoses such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often have only modest symptom improvement. The authors wondered whether participating in a therapeutic recreation creative arts group along with would aid recovery. A 12-week program called the my Social life, Expression, Leisure Food (mySELF) was created...

BACKGROUND Posttraumatic headache (PTH) occurs in up to 82% of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in 39% of those with PTH. This study evaluates whether PTSD affects PTH disability. METHODS Eighty-six patients with TBI were prospectively evaluated in a secondary care trauma center. Headache disability was assessed using the Headache Impact ...

Although the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were the largest human-made disaster in US history, there is little extant research documenting the attacks' consequences among those most directly affected, that is, persons who were in the World Trade Center towers. Data from a cross-sectional survey conducted 2-3 years after the attacks ascertained the prevalence of long-term, disaster-relat...

OBJECTIVE Tonic immobility is a defensive reaction occurring under extreme life threats. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reporting peritraumatic tonic immobility show the most severe symptoms and a poorer response to treatment. This study investigated the predictive value of tonic immobility for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a non-clinical sample. METHODS One hundred and...

Subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk for suicidality, depression, and functional impairment. We thus conducted a small (N=12) pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with paroxetine for subthreshold PTSD in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) era veterans. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores improved by 30.4...

I n this issue, we are privileged to have 2 state-of-the-art reviews on the topic of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), written by preeminent authorities in the field. Dr Naomi Breslau provides a critical overview of the epidemiology of PTSD, highlighting sex differences and comorbidity. Dr Gordon Asmundson and colleagues’ insightful synthesis of the literature linking PTSD to chronic pain e...