POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that some people get after seeing or living through a dangerous event. Approximately 7.7 million American adults age 18 and older have post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the National Institutes of Health.

When in danger, it’s natural to feel afraid When in danger, it’s natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it.

But in PTSD, this reaction is changed or damaged. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in PTSD, this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger.

Anyone can get PTSD at any age Anyone can get PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans and survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and many other serious events.

Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people get PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is harmed. The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD.

Re-experiencing Symptoms Avoidance or Depression Symptoms PTSD can cause many symptoms. These symptoms can be grouped into three categories: Re-experiencing Symptoms Avoidance or Depression Symptoms Hyperarousal or Anxiety Symptoms

Re-experiencing Symptoms Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating Bad dreams Frightening thoughts. Re-experiencing symptoms may cause problems in a person’s everyday routine. They can start from the person’s own thoughts and feelings. Words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing.

Avoidance or Depression Symptoms Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience Feeling emotionally numb Feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past Having trouble remembering the dangerous event.

Avoidance or Depression Symptoms Things that remind a person of the traumatic event can trigger avoidance symptoms. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine. For example, after a bad car accident, a person who usually drives may avoid driving or riding in a car.

Hyperarousal or Anxiety Symptoms Being easily startled Feeling tense or “on edge” Having difficulty sleeping, and/or having angry outbursts. Hyperarousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic event. They can make the person feel stressed and angry. These symptoms may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

Hyperarousal or Anxiety Symptoms It’s natural to have some of these symptoms after a dangerous event. Sometimes people have very serious symptoms that go away after a few weeks. This is called acute stress disorder, or ASD. When the symptoms last more than a few weeks and become an ongoing problem, they might be PTSD. Some people with PTSD don’t show any symptoms for weeks or months.

PTSD in Children and Teens Children and teens can have extreme reactions to trauma, but their symptoms may not be the same as adults.  In very young children, these symptoms can include: Bedwetting, when they’d learned how to use the toilet before Forgetting how or being unable to talk Acting out the scary event during playtime Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult.

Diagnosing PTSD To be diagnosed with PTSD, a person must have all of the following for at least 1 month:  At least one Re-experiencing symptom At least three Avoidance symptoms At least two Hyperarousal symptoms Symptoms that make it hard to go about daily life, go to school or work, be with friends, and take care of important tasks.

Treating PTSD with Psychotherapy Psychotherapy is “talk” therapy. It involves talking with a mental health professional to treat a mental illness. Psychotherapy can occur one-on-one or in a group. Talk therapy treatment for PTSD usually lasts 6 to 12 weeks, but can take more time. Research shows that support from family and friends can be an important part of therapy.

Treating PTSD with Medication The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for treating adults with PTSD:  sertraline (Zoloft) paroxetine (Paxil) Both of these medications are antidepressants, which are also used to treat depression.

Treating PTSD with Medication The FDA issued a Black Box Warning (A “black box” warning is the most serious type of warning on prescription drug labeling.)

Black Box Warning The warning emphasizes that patients of all ages taking antidepressants should be closely monitored, especially during the initial weeks of treatment. Possible side effects to look for are worsening depression, suicidal thinking or behavior, or any unusual changes in behavior such as sleeplessness, agitation, or withdrawal from normal social situations. The warning adds that families and caregivers should also be told of the need for close monitoring and report any changes to the physician. The latest information can be found on the FDA Web site

Treating PTSD with Medication Doctors may also prescribe other types of medications, such as the ones listed below. There is little information on how well these work for people with PTSD. Benzodiazepines These medications may be given to help people relax and sleep. People who take benzodiazepines may have memory problems or become dependent on the medication

Treating PTSD with Medication Antipsychotics. These medications are usually given to people with other mental disorders, like schizophrenia. People who take antipsychotics may gain weight and have a higher chance of getting heart disease and diabetes.

THE NEUROFEEDBACK APPROACH Research over the past 40 years has demonstrated that inappropriate brainwave activity is at the core of most neurological disorders. Neurofeedback is a sophisticated form of biofeedback that actually trains the brain to normalize the brainwaves and make them flexible and adaptable to situational needs. And the results are permanent!

Neurofeedback is based upon the principle that there is a normal pattern of brain wave activity and that the brain regulates itself based upon this pattern. Neurofeedback is based upon the principle that there is a normal pattern of brain wave activity and that the brain regulates itself based upon this pattern.

Research demonstrates that this normal pattern may become disrupted resulting in a dysregulated brain and causing neurological symptoms Research demonstrates that this normal pattern of brainwave activity may become disrupted, resulting in a dysregulated brain and causing neurological symptoms. For example, we know that the brain wave patterns of people with focus and attention issues such as with ADHD, is different than the brain wave patterns of people without those issues. Typically, these people will demonstrate higher magnitudes of Theta waves and lower magnitudes of Beta waves. When you consider the fact that Theta is associated with a twilight state of mind and Beta is associated with external focus and attention, the dysregulated pattern fits the symptomatology.

Dysregulated Brain Wave Patterns are Identified on a Quantitative Electroencephalogram or QEEG

DELTA/THETA DYSREGULATION There are three types of Global Dysregulation DELTA/THETA DYSREGULATION ALPHA DYSREGULATION BETA DYSREGULATION

The BrainCore Brain Map A Brain Map provides us with the information that is required to perform neurofeedback training A Brain Map provides us with the information that is required to perform neurofeedback training The brain map is the road map that tells us which brainwaves and which locations in the brain need to be addressed with the neurofeedback Without a brain map we would not know which brainwaves were dysregulated Performing neurofeedback without a brain map would be like performing a chiropractic adjustment without doing some type of evaluation such as a leg check, x-ray or palpation.

The purpose of the Brain Map is two fold: To identify both global and focal dysregulatory brain wave patterns; and To provide the statistically best neurofeedback protocols to correct those dysregulated patterns

The goal of neurofeedback is not to diagnose or treat any particular condition. The goal is to transform an unhealthy, dysregulated brainwave pattern into a normal, healthy, organized pattern Keep in mind however, that the goal of neurofeedback as a treatment modality is not to treat any particular diagnosis. The goal of neurofeedback is to transform an unhealthy, dysregulated brainwave pattern into a normal, healthy, organized pattern. As such, we are not concerned with diagnosing or labeling a particular condition. Our focus is to identify dysregulated brain wave patterns and provide neurofeedback training to correct those dysregulated patterns. Research has proven that a well regulated, balanced brain will operate more efficiently and optimally resulting in the elimination of symptomatology.

HOW IS NEUROFEEDBACK DONE Individuals are hooked up to a computer using wires and sensors and the computer reads their brainwaves Individuals are hooked up to a computer using wires and sensors and the computer reads their brainwaves

Information about these brainwaves is displayed on the doctors monitor

The software automatically detects when the brainwaves are properly ordered and it feeds that information back to the patient

This feedback appears in the form of a game, movie, or sound which signals the patient that the brainwaves are becoming more ordered

Rollercoaster Video

DVD’s and Movies

THE BIG IDEA When you have information on what your brain waves are doing, your brain can use that information to change how it works. When you have information on what your brain waves are doing, your brain can use that information to change how it works. Copyright Braincore Therapy 2011

NEUROFEEDBACK IS BASED IN OVER 40 YEARS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH PROVING IT’S EFFICACY The history of neurofeedback is unique in that before it was introduced to the clinical world, it spent over 40 years in the research labs at universities throughout the world. This was due to several reasons. First, back in the 1960’s the technology necessary to perform neurofeedback was still relatively new. As such, it was also very expensive. This made it almost impossible for a clinic to afford the equipment. In addition, the knowledge base was still being developed and the software was hard to use. Given this scenario, neurofeedback remained largely in the research labs until the late 1990’s. By that time the knowledge base had been better developed, the software was easier to use and the equipment was much less expensive. More and more clinicians began using it and offering it to the general public. Because of this unique scenario, the general public sees neurofeedback as a new, cutting edge therapy, but the reality is that it has been around for a long time and is well researched.

In fact, Dr Frank H. Duffy, a Professor and Pediatric Neurologist at Harvard Medical School, stated that “Neurofeedback should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used” In fact, Dr Frank H. Duffy, a Professor and Pediatric Neurologist at Harvard Medical School, stated that “Neurofeedback should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used”

DEEP STATES RESEARCH Peniston Studies In 1991 Peniston published a study in a top journal, Medical Psychotherapy using neurofeedback with Vietnam veterans suffering with PTSD There were 2 groups: Group 1 - 14 subjects received traditional therapies Group 2 - 15 subjects received neurofeedback, deep states training in addition to the traditional therapies

DEEP STATES RESEARCH Peniston Studies By the end of the month long study only group 2 tested within normal limits on psychological testing; and Thirty months later 12 of the 15 who had done the deep states training were living a normal life while all 14 in the control group had relapsed

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