PTSD

In one of the largest, and most detailed studies of its kind conducted to date, a team of researchers examined data from over 150,000 US war veterans and found eight specific genetic regions that seem to confer an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Researchers believe they have homed in on a specific biomarker that can be linked to suicidal thoughts in subjects suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new study adds to a growing body of research into novel ways clinicians can identify patients at high risk of suicide.

​Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a very serious problem, and it unfortunately often goes undiagnosed. New technology could help, however, as it uses artificial intelligence to determine if someone has PTSD – based on their speech.

As part of a decade-long research project a newly published study has revealed the development of a blood test that can purportedly identify patients most at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and possibly even predict future psychiatric hospitalizations.

​Post traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety can all be quite serious conditions, but it's often difficult to determine who may be prone to developing them. New research suggests that in order to find out, we should perhaps look to a person's skin.

New research from the University of Queensland (UQ) has now found a chemical pathway that helps the brain wipe fear memories, which could lead to new potential treatments for phobias and other fear-related anxiety disorders.

Newly published results from a Phase 2 clinical trial into the efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in treating PTSD have revealed striking success, with 76 percent of subjects not meeting the standard clinical criteria for PTSD 12 months after receiving the treatment.

A massive study spanning 30 years of data and examining a cohort of over one million people has found a strong association between persons suffering from stress disorders, including PTSD, and an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

Scientists have directly identified the cluster of neurons in the brain responsible for recalling long-term memories of traumatic experiences, helping answer the question of whether therapy suppresses fear-based memories or if it actually rewrites those memories.​

Intriguing new research suggests that a particular bacteria may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects on the brain. Early studies in rodent models found that through injections of the bacteria the animals can be "immunized" against displaying anxious responses to stressful situations.

Biologists at UCLA have effectively transferred a memory from a trained snail into the mind of an untrained one. The experiment could eventually lead to new treatments for restoring memory in Alzheimer’s patients or to reduce traumatic memories.

​The results of a clinical trial in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD have just been published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry. These impressive results led to the FDA expediting the new treatment and last year granting it Breakthrough Therapy Designation.​