PTSD can be a debilitating disorder that makes it impossible for a person to function at home, work or school. It develops after experiencing severe trauma, such as being in a combat zone, and is characterized by insomnia, flashbacks to the events, intrusive thoughts, vigilance to the point that the person overreacts to everyday sounds, irritability, problems in anger management, and nightmares. About 5% to 10% of the general population suffers from it at any one time, and among military personnel returning from the Middle East conflicts, the rate may be as high as 25%, and even 33% among units who experienced heavy combat. In many cases, PTSS goes away on its own after about five years.

With a deadline of January 2014, military research scientists hope to find therapies that work faster and have higher cure rates than what is currently available. They are studying the benefits of alternative therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, meditation, and peer support through social internet networks like Facebook. Having clients work with dogs or horses instead of participating in talk therapy is being used as one way for the person to relearn body language and relax around others without being hypervigilant for danger. Military research teams have already discarded several old treatments for PTSS, and deemed several more promising.

Dr. Anita Hickey, a medical doctor in the Navy, has secured a $100,000 grant to study the effectiveness of an experimental treatment developed by a Chicago anesthesiologist, Dr. Eugene Lipov. Dr. Lipov found that a single injection to the back of the neck, known as a Stellate Ganglion Block, can help many patients instantly. The theory of this treatment is that trauma spikes the growth of nerve cells in that region, which is known as the “flight or fight” region. A SGB injection stops that growth, and “resets” the nerves to calm instead of agitated.

Dr. Hickey is now halfway through a two-year project, and is currently conducting a double-blind study of the effectiveness of SGB injections on 42 sailors. So far the injection works better than the placebos. Among the questions she and other researchers are trying to answer is how much medicine is needed per injection? Why does it work on some patients and not others?

Among the other more promising areas of research is a new form of exposure therapy. Victims of PTSS often find it too difficult to recall traumatic events even in the safety of a therapist’s office. One approach is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, in which a client recalls events for 30 seconds or less while the therapist moves an object before the person’s eyes. The person experiences rapid eye movement, similar to dream sleep, while recalling the event and then talks the memory over with the therapist. The military researchers are experimenting with something even newer — virtual reality programs enhanced with smells, sounds and vibrations to use during recall sessions.

As for discarded treatments for PTSD, this year the Pentagon recommended that military doctors should no longer prescribe benzodiazepines for those with PTSS. These sedatives have trademarked names such as Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin, and are used to manage anxiety and insomnia. When military researchers studied 498,000 who used these drugs between 1999 and 2009, they found increases in the frequency, duration, and dosage amounts. Although the number of military patients using them fell by 6% in that period, the number of those who had been using them more than 90 days increased from 64% to 69%. Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed short-term, because long-term use leads to addiction, physical tolerance and an unpleasant withdrawal syndrome. These drugs are not often prescribed to those with histories of drug and alcohol abuse, which one in four soldiers with PTSS has. The old theory was that benzodiazepines help these patients to sleep, which in turn decreases their anxiety, depression, and PTSS symptoms. However, the new research indicated that the drugs only help initially but do not lead to a cure.

“Even if you avoid the abuse problem,” said Dr. Alexander Neumeister, a professor of psychiatry at New York University, “you are nevertheless treating a patient with a medication that really should not be used for that indication (PTSS). Not at all.”

Researchers in the study also believe that when therapists or psychologists use therapy that involves conversation with patients, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, they may be able to understand even more about when a future mood-related episode might happen. While current research often points to conditions related to the patient’s genetics or their biological factors, the study is opening the door to more research about how the patients’ perspectives relate to their illness.

Published in the journal Psychological Assessment, researchers from the University of Lancaster and the University of Manchester studied 50 patients who had bipolar disorder for a time period of 30 days while noting their thought patterns and actions. They concluded that these actions and thoughts made a notable impact on the patients’ mood swings, especially concerning the ways the patients’ believed they could (or could not) let their moods happen and then move forward.

Therapies that involve guiding patients toward active goal-setting and forward-thinking in their lives are also being explored for their potential to help patients more successfully move through varying emotions in response to life stressors. The research may also help experts learn more about which patients may be more vulnerable to a relapse while working through their treatment.

A recent study examining the substance use in the United States as it compares with that in South Korea highlights the importance of considering both biological and environmental factors involved in addiction. The study investigated alcohol use disorders (AUDs), mood and anxiety disorders and nicotine dependence in the two countries.

Overall, the study found that while AUDs are more common in the United States, South Koreans are much less likely to seek necessary treatment. However, the findings are consistent with increasing research reporting a steady increase in alcohol use among those in low to middle-income nations.

Results of the study will appear in the April edition of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Associate professor at Catholic University of Korea, Hae Kook Lee, is corresponding author of the study. Lee explains that many low to middle-income nations are enduring a significant increase in stress due to the rise of urban and industrial factors in their communities. In addition, says Lee, westernization of these countries may be softening a taboo for women drinking. This is especially likely in Eastern nations.

The researchers gathered data by using national representative samples of each country’s populations to analyze rates of nicotine dependence, AUDs and mood and anxiety disorders in the United States and South Korea. They also measured co morbidity among those with AUDs who had entered treatment in the past year.

The researchers discovered that the rate of AUDs among the American population was significantly greater than among South Koreans. The team found that 9.1 percent of the population had an AUD in the United States, versus 7.1 percent in South Korea.

The researchers explain that the significant difference in AUDs is mainly due to the difference in drinking behaviors among women in the two cultures. The South Korean culture is largely influenced by Confucian thought, though drinking among women is currently increasing at a fast pace.

Though there was a much higher rate of AUDs in the United States, the researchers also found that Americans were four times more likely to seek treatment than South Koreans. This difference may be due to a major difference in social stigma related to substance abuse that is prevalent in South Korea.

AUDs are often diagnosed along with anxiety and other mood disorders. The study found that the rates for co morbidity of AUDs with other mood disorders were similar between the United States and South Korea. The researchers believe that one cause of co morbidity is the use of alcohol to alleviate the stress of dealing with another disorder such as anxiety or depression.

Stealing out of necessity isn’t the case for some celebrities. It is seldom a case for a need but rather the opportunity for the person to be in control of a situation that is often viewed as powerless behavior.

As more shoplifters are being caught who obviously have the means to pay for their items, the public is left to ask "why"? Global Retail Theft barometer and Checkpoint Systems, a retail consultant, is noticing middle-class criminals have their eyes on more expensive items to continue their previous lifestyle before the economy tanked. Blaming recession woes for breaking the law is only tapping the surface as to what’s really going on. Psychologists at the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention are describing the behavior as a reaction to a great loss and filling a void no matter if it is a real threat.

Barbara Staib with the association says shoplifters are usually standup citizens who would normally be considered honest. The research has shown that there may be a connection between shoplifting and depression. There are many vices that people turn to when they are feeling blue. Like alcohol and drugs, shoplifting fills the similar "rush" associated with balancing depression. However, the relief is short lived and remorse typically sets in immediately. During the incident, the shoplifter will actually be convinced they are not doing anything wrong. The maladaptive behavior is a coping mechanism.

Once caught, the act of shoplifting is shocking to them. Dr. Will Cupchik has worked with the suspects for decades compiling research as to why those who can afford almost anything, steal. He explains that there are many reasons to risk it all but shoplifting fills a particular void that many fill with drugs, alcohol or food. The behavior is no different and should not be viewed in a different light than alcoholism or drug addiction.

Experts believe some of the increase may be due to expansions of counseling services available and the increase in mental health issues prompted by financial uncertainty and job-related stress. Some feel doctors have become too quick to categorize such feelings of distress and to label patients too early since this type of anxiety is normal considering the pressure they’re under .

Further data from the NHS Information Centre show that hospital cases rose by a third with such diagnoses between 2007 and 2011. Psychiatric consultant, Dr. Joanna Moncrieff says too many patients were given medical labels and then prescribed drugs when they had normal feelings of anxiety. Moncrieff says the pharmaceutical industry looks constantly for new markets as more and more anxiety disorders are being given to people who are upset or troubled. Most general practitioners simply don’t have the time to speak to patients about the reasons they are unhappy. It’s just easier to treat anxiety as a normal disorder and move on. Moncrieff adds that treating these cases as said "medical disorders" does little for the long-term good of patients.

However, other doctors believe the condition is not over diagnosed but rather means more sufferers in the general public are getting the help they need and that we still need to improve awareness of those with anxiety disorders.

A new study suggests, however, that sleeping following a traumatic event may instead strengthen the impact of the negative experience and the emotions associated with it. Led by Rebecca Spencer, a psychologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the research team discovered that when shown disturbing images, participants who slept after the viewing experienced stronger emotions linked to the images.

The findings may provide important insight into the treatment for the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The participants were shown images, including some extremely unpleasant images, as well as some neutral images. The participants who went to sleep after watching the series of images were likelier to rate the images as just as troublesome, if not even more troubling, when they viewed them again after sleeping when compared with those who remained awake.

While sleep is, overall, very beneficial to good health, in this case it may be detrimental to regaining good mental health. Spencer explains that insomnia after a traumatic event may be a biological protection.

To examine the effects of sleep on trauma, Spencer, along with colleagues, recruited 106 participants between the ages of 18 and 30. The participants were shown 30 neutral and 30 negative images. The negative images included subjects such as troubling scenes from a country that was war-torn, while the neutral images included one scene of a man with his newspaper.

The participants were asked to rate the emotions connected with the images. Twelve hours afterward, the participants viewed them again, interspersed with 120 additional images. The participant rates the pictures a second time.

To analyze the connection between the ratings and sleep, the researchers had part of the participants sleep between the two sessions of image-viewing, while others stayed awake. Those who slept during the intermission were also monitored for sleep stages and lengths of each sleep stage.

The results of the exercise showed that those in the group who stayed awake rated the images as less disturbing after the second viewing, while those in the sleep group rated the images as equally disturbing both times. Those with the most REM sleep rated the images as more disturbing than others in the group.

The results of the study may provide information useful for treating survivors of traumatic events and preventing the onset of PTSD.

The study’s findings are published in the January edition of The Journal of Neuroscience.

There are many infections, tissue injuries and malignancies that cause inflammation throughout the body and depression has been linked to CRP, or C-reactive proteins. This biomarker in the blood is often associated with increases for risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.

Dr. William Copeland, at the Medical Center at Duke University, reported the study showed an association between CRP and depression in a large sample of volunteers, with both adolescents and young adults. Copeland and his team studied children as they grew into adulthood. This allowed his team of experts to measure changes over a time period with both CRP levels and depressive episodes or symptoms. Researchers found that amounts of collective depressive episodes were associated with raised levels of C-reactive proteins but it didn’t predict depression forming later on.

The largest amounts of CRP were found with those people who endured multiple episodes of depression. Copeland says the results show a pattern from childhood depression to raised levels of C-reactive proteins but did not find any support for the path from CRP to an increased risk toward depression.

Experts believe depression is a recurring problem for many people and that repeated episodes do contribute to inflammation throughout the body. These findings highlight the importance of treating depression early on as it can be a factor in a long range of serious health problems down the road.

Somewhere between casual play and excessive use of video games, some believe that the benefit of using video games as stress relief subsides and are replaced with negative effects. Recently, researchers from Victoria University examined the long-term impact of video games.

Daniel Loton, a Ph.D. student at Victoria, recruited participants to participate in an ongoing study analyzing the effects of video game addiction across the globe. The first stage of that study has been released, showing that there may be a connection between excessive video game playing and increased levels of depression and anxiety symptoms.

Loton conducted a survey involving over 100 individuals. The survey stretched over a period of nine months, with questions formulated to measure stressful events and life satisfaction. The questions also asked about subjects such as study habits, parenting, romantic relationships and parenting.

In addition to the survey, Loton and colleagues also requested that the participants write in a diary to record how video game and time spent playing affect different areas of life.

The results of the study show a comparison between the habits and effects of those who played video games at an excessive level and those who played more casually. Excessive video game playing was defined as averaging at least 33 hours per week, versus casual play, which was defined as approximately 21 hours per week.

The study’s findings showed that those who played video games at an excessive level reported about 15 percent more anxiety and stress, and a 25 percent increase in depression symptoms than those who played at a casual level.

Loton said that both excessive and casual players reported levels of stress, depression and anxiety that were above the results found in other past research studies. However, Loton’s research identified a significant problem among excessive gamers. The measures for stress, depression and anxiety were above that for clinical significance.

One interesting finding of Loton’s study showed that excessive gaming did not result in negative consequences related to working or study habits. In fact, the participants in this study exhibited success in study habits, with better academic achievement than they had anticipated.

While the results of the study show a connection between excessive video game play and mental health problems, further research is necessary to gain more understanding of the link.

When it comes to treatment there are barriers for both substance abuse and PTSD. Professionals on one side often refuse to treat alcoholics until their PTSD is in check. Professionals dealing with PTSD in almost half of veterans and a third of citizens are reluctant to treat the disorder without a handle on their substance abuse problems.

Research has shown that overcoming that hump and treating the two simultaneously has results. Undermining goals for dealing with substance abuse has often been regarded as opening Pandora’s Box. But the demons are already there for many of the patients dealing with both of these issues. To take control over the PTSD could hinder the substance abuse and kicking their habits can make them more responsive to PTSD treatment.

Integrating treatments is extremely beneficial based on many documented studies. There are enhanced outcomes of symptoms in post therapeutic scenarios. Many of the patients seen in the clinic of Dr. Kathleen T. Brady had numerous disorders that could benefit from one unique treatment plan.

Another psychiatrist found that by focusing on practical treatment for a reduction in anxiety, incorporating recovery thinking and managing relationships, patients were able to respond more quickly and easily.

It was quite obvious in many of the case studies that a collaborative effort to treat both PTSD and substance abuse improved the patient’s quality of life. Overall, there was a vast improvement in problem solving skills and a reduction in suicidal thoughts.

A new study provides evidence that strict adherence to rituals in combination with oral or tactile sensitivities may be a predictor of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in adulthood. The types of oral or tactile sensitivities included may be an unusual irritation to specific types of fabric or extreme reactions to simple dental procedures.

The study was led by Professor Reuven Dar from the Tel Aviv University Department of Psychology, and the findings are published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. Professor Dar was first interested in discovering whether there was a link between childhood sensitivities to rituals and adult OCD when he noticed a pattern of adult OCD patients mentioning problems with taste and touch during childhood.

In the first research study to examine this connection, Professor Dar and colleagues have uncovered the connection between childhood ritualistic behaviors and adult OCD. The study’s findings indicate that when children are especially sensitive to certain tastes and tactile experiences, they establish rituals to cope with their reactions. As the child grows, they develop tendencies that are a pathway to OCD.

The researchers conducted two studies to determine the connection between childhood rituals and OCD. The first study recruited parents of kindergarten students and asked them to complete questionnaires about their children’s rituals. The researchers wanted to find out how intense the need for ritual was for these students, the need to do rituals in a certain order, and their level of anxiety.

These questions were related as well to how the children reacted to strangers, their connection to family members, and worrying about upcoming events. Finally, the researchers asked parents to indicate how the children responded when they were touched or experienced new smells or tastes.

The other study asked 314 adults to complete online surveys that measured OCD symptoms, anxiety, and a history of sensitivity to taste and tactile experiences.

The results from these two analyses show that there is a significant connection linking symptoms of OCD and hypersensitivity. The researchers found that hypersensitivity was connected to ritualism, and in adults it was linked to OCD symptoms.

Together, these studies provide evidence that ritualism in childhood as a way to deal with sensitivity to taste and tactile stimulation is linked with OCD in adulthood. Professor Dar hopes to further enhance understanding of the topic by conducting a longitudinal study following children with hypersensitivity into adulthood.