Alternate PTSD Therapy for Vets Ruffles VA Feathers, but Shows Results

longknife · May 31, 2016

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]There are always alternatives. But the bureaucrats and know-it-all medics refuse to accept them. [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]EMDR is designed to help the brain unlock traumatic memories and reprocess them into more positive thoughts. During a session, the client may be asked to focus on a memory while stimulation is used such as eye movements, tapping or sounds. After each association is processed, the "bilateral" stimulation continues until the original issue is no longer disturbing.[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Story @ http://www.military.com/daily-news/...y-vets-ruffles-va-feathers-shows-results.html[/FONT]

waltky · Aug 19, 2016

Army Surgeon General not too keen on Marijuana for PTSD Treatment...

Army Surgeon General Skeptical of Marijuana for PTSD Treatment
Aug 19, 2016 | Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West, the Army Surgeon General, on Thursday was wary of endorsing the first trials approved by the government for using marijuana to treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

West noted she was an Army officer and the military still considers marijuana an illegal substance despite growing public support for its decriminalization. If service members test positive for marijuana, they can be subject to a "wide range of actions," she said. In addition, research has found "that using marijuana has a lot of adverse health effects," West said at a breakfast with defense reporters. Marijuana "is more dangerous, with some of the carcinogens that are in it, than tobacco," West said. "The impact that it has long-term on certain areas of the brain, especially young people developing, that's been proven -- irreversible damage to the hippocampus and things like that that can really have impacts on individuals long-term," she said.

Marijuana is measured in 3.5-gram amounts and placed in cans for packaging at the Pioneer Production and Processing marijuana growing facility in Arlington, Wash.

However, the surgeon general, who succeeded Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho in the position last December, said she would look at the results of the government-approved trials of marijuana for PTSD treatment "so long as it's evidence-based." She said some chemical components of marijuana short of a full dose might prove useful in treating PTSD. "I'm for looking at that," she said. "We're looking at all modalities," but "I don't know if we need to have the full spectrum of what's in marijuana as it's typically administered -- if that's necessary," she said. "We should always, at least, have an open mind to look at things in an evidence-based way for something that could be useful for our soldiers," West said. Currently, the various therapies available in the military have proven to be about 80 percent effective in easing the symptoms of PTSD, she said.

In April, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, approved the first-ever clinical trials backed by the government of marijuana as a treatment for PTSD in veterans. The trials were expected to begin next month with combat veteran volunteers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and at the Scottsdale Research Institute in Phoenix. In June, Quinnipiac University reported that 87 percent of 1,561 voters polled nationwide supported giving veterans marijuana for PTSD.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/...keptical-of-marijuana-for-ptsd-treatment.html
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juanvaldez · Aug 19, 2016

So something on the order of 1% see any combat but 20% suffer from PTSD?

waltky · Dec 31, 2016

Granny says, "Dat's right - Music soothes the soul of the savage beast...

Veterans: Moving With the Music Eases PTSD Symptoms
December 31, 2016 - Many veterans struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, after returning home from war. Symptoms of this invisible wound may manifest as panic attacks, flashbacks of horrible memories or nightmares.

People with PTSD may also have problems concentrating and sleeping. They may suddenly get angry or develop unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking and doing drugs. Some of them are dancing their symptoms away.

No worries, no nightmares

More than two dozen veterans gather once a week in Louisville, Kentucky, for a dance session. Theyre clapping, moving to the music and taking a break from the overwhelming symptoms of PTSD. These dance-as-therapy sessions are organized by Deborah Denenfeld. You know you get moving, the endorphins go up, and you feel good, she said. And they tell me that they continue to feel good even after they go home and maybe into the next day and the next day.

According to the U.S. Veterans Administration, between 10 and 20 percent of war veterans are living with PTSD. Roosevelt Smith, who served in the Gulf War, is one of them and says dancing helps. Its a way of calming yourself, an outlet so to speak, he said. We have a lot of things that we do as far as prescription drugs, but this right here is the best prescription that Ive had as far as dance, no side effects. Actually the only thing that will happen to you is if you smile too much, you know your cheeks may, uh, you get sore and you get stuck, but its good to be smiling.

Dance as therapy

Denenfeld developed the Dancing Well program for veterans with PTSD in 2013. The group sessions are kept small, usually less than 30 people. Each session runs for 10 weeks. The lights are kept low and the music is cheery without heavy beats. We do lower the lights for people who have traumatic brain injuries, Denenfeld said. We watch the volume of the music, some people are very sensitive to volumes and noise.

War veteran Darlene Messler says following the music helps her focus on herself and live in the moment. It brings me back to me, it focuses on myself and that Im having fun, which before when I was always worried about what other people were thinking or did I do this right or stuff like that, she said. When Im here, I dont have to worry about that I just have fun, were all just here as a family and just having fun. Denenfelds next step is to train volunteer leaders so more classes can be offered to help veterans fight PTSD.

http://www.voanews.com/a/veterans-music-dancing-ptsd-symptoms/3657969.html
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waltky · Dec 6, 2017

Ecstasy and Cannabidiol May Soon Be Legal Medicine in US...

Two Illegal Drugs May Soon Be Legal Medicine in US
December 04, 2017 — Doctors across the U..S could soon be prescribing formerly illegal drugs as therapy for two hard-to-treat diseases - childhood epilepsy and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A growing body of scientific evidence is leading the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take a closer look at cannabidiol, an extract of marijuana, and MDMA, an ingredient in the party drug ecstasy.

The makers of a cannabidiol product named Epidiolex have now completed all three phases of FDA-approved clinical studies. The submission for FDA approval includes clinical data on 1,500 patients, 400 of whom had used it for more than a year. If it is approved, Epidiolex could be part of the legal arsenal for treating epilepsy within a year.

MDMA

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a non-profit organization focused on beneficial medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana. It funded six Phase 2 FDA-approved clinical studies of MDMA combined with therapy for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The only PTSD medicines currently approved by the FDA usually don’t work well, says Boulder, Colorado, psychiatrist Will Vanderveer, “and leave millions of people still symptomatic and suffering. And dying from suicide." Vanderveer worked with psychotherapist Marcela Ot’Alora, the study's principal investigator, on the three-month long protocol, which included a monthly dose of MDMA and weekly therapy sessions. There were 28 participants. When they were given MDMA, therapists stayed with them during the eight hours the drug was active, helping them recall past traumas in a more effective way.

Medical marijuana plants are the source of cannabidiol that has proven helpful as an anti-seizure medicine.

Ot’Alora says the MDMA promoted trust with the therapists, and the insights gained were profound. “It could be crying, it could be even screaming. They realize, 'wow, I was completely going away and dissociated from the experience, and now I see what was really happening.' Anger can come up, really getting in touch with the anger at what was done to them. Karen, one of the participants, was plagued by nightmares and dread after being sexually abused as a child. She says that decades of therapy and anti-depressant drugs did not help, but this protocol did. “I don't walk around just thinking I'm garbage anymore. You know, I feel like, wow, you know, I'm kind of a good person here.” James was a combat medic, and returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan with PTSD. He tried a number of different therapies, but still felt like he was in a dark cave, with no way out. Then he found the MDMA study. In an on-line documentary about the study, he describes the drug as "a kind of light," and the therapists as "guides. And I could see around the cave and figure out how to get out of there. It was really helpful."

MAPS is funding clinical trials of MDMA as a tool to assist psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The MDMA plus therapy protocol eliminated symptoms in nearly 70 percent of the participants previously diagnosed with treatment resistant PTSD. The final step before requesting FDA approval as a prescription medicine is Phase Three trials, which are scheduled to begin next year.

https://www.voanews.com/a/illegal-drugs-prescription-meds/4148539.html
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See also:

Paraguay Congress Legalizes Planting of Medical Marijuana
December 05, 2017 — Paraguay's Congress passed a bill Tuesday creating a state-sponsored system to import marijuana seeds and grow the plant for medical uses, a decision that followed other countries in Latin America.

The landlocked South American nation had authorized the importing of cannabis oil in May, under control of the health ministry, and Tuesday's decision was celebrated by patients and their loved ones for making it more readily available. "We are very happy because this will also allow for the import of seeds for oil production," said Roberto Cabanas, vice president of Paraguay's medicinal cannabis organization. His daughter has Dravet syndrome and the family was paying $300 a month for imported cannabis oil.

A man waves a flag during a rally against drug trafficking and in favor of the legalization of self-cultivation of marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes in Santiago, Chile, April 20, 2017. Paraguay took a step Tuesday to make medicinal marijuana more readily available.

Peru, Chile, Argentina and Colombia had already legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Uruguay has fully legalized growing and selling marijuana for any use. The bill will likely be signed into law by the executive as it was supported by the health ministry. Growing marijuana for recreational purposes in Paraguay is illegal, yet the country is a key source of illegal marijuana trafficked into Brazil and Argentina.

https://www.voanews.com/a/paraguay-congress-legalizes-planting-medical-marijuana/4150723.html
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waltky · Jan 28, 2018

Fort Hood PTSD Study Gives Hope for Faster Recovery...

Fort Hood PTSD Study Gives Hope for Faster Recovery
27 Jan 2018 - A recent Fort Hood-based study holds hope for a speedy recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms -- in as little as two weeks -- for service members returning from combat.

Researchers say the study, which involved 370 active-duty service members seeking PTSD treatment, has already led to a Defense Department directive to make the treatment more available at its clinics on military installations across the country. At Fort Hood's Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, researchers studied the effect of prolonged exposure therapy, in which patients repeatedly recounted and discussed their most traumatic memories to process the trauma they experienced and reduce the anxiety caused by the memories. Service members listened to recordings of those episodes, practiced confronting real-life situations that spark anxiety and did controlled breathing exercises. The therapy previously had shown success among civilians, but the length of the treatment -- eight to 15 weeks -- can make it difficult for service members to complete it.

But the Texas study found that two weeks of intensive daily treatment were as effective as a traditional eight-week course. Almost half of the study participants no longer tested positive for PTSD after the treatment, gains that researchers said largely held up over time. "The shorter treatment is an optimal intervention for military personnel with PTSD, as it minimizes the time and inconvenience entailed by a longer treatment before continuing their military career or returning to civilian life," said Edna Foa, a University of Pennsylvania clinical psychology and psychiatry professor, who developed prolonged exposure therapy and led the study. The study, the first-ever randomized clinical trial of prolonged exposure therapy with active-duty military personnel and the largest study yet of prolonged exposure therapy, was carried out by researchers affiliated with the STRONG STAR consortium, a multi-institutional research network funded by the Defense Department aimed at researching combat-related PTSD treatments.

Sean Brack, who served three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, participated in a groundbreaking PTSD study at Fort Hood, Texas.

In 2016, STRONG STAR announced the results of another Fort Hood study that found 12 sessions of therapy led to PTSD recovery in 40 to 50 percent of soldiers. Instead of confronting traumatic memories directly as in prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy helps patients learn to think about their traumatic experiences in a clearer way, without "distorted thoughts" that perpetuate feelings of guilt, blame and anger, researchers said. STRONG STAR researchers are slated to train Defense Department clinicians who treat special operations forces troops on the two-week prolonged exposure therapy. Alan Peterson, a psychiatry professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio who directs the STRONG STAR consortium, said a short, intensive treatment would be more feasible given the schedules of elite troops.

Despite the promising results, combat-related PTSD remains more difficult to treat than other forms of PTSD. Recovery rates among civilians using prolonged exposure therapy are up to 80 percent, compared with about 50 percent for military veterans. "Our findings are good news -- about half of those treated can be treated into remission," Peterson said. "This is critical for the hundreds of thousands of post-9/11 combat veterans affected by PTSD and can do so much to improve lives and assist with military readiness. Still, we need to identify the specific factors with combat PTSD -- the things that make it more difficult to treat -- and then enhance the treatments to tackle those challenges."

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/01/27/fort-hood-ptsd-study-gives-hope-faster-recovery.html
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Alternate PTSD Therapy for Vets Ruffles VA Feathers, but Shows Results

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