PTSD

`Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)`
	Assessment of condition
		Overview Although the term "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD) may have been "coined" during the Vietnam War Era by mental health professionals in the 1960s, the behavioral and psychological symptoms that are known as PTSD have existed probably since the beginning of humankind. "Post" means "after." The "traumatic" portion refers to your either personally experiencing or witnessing a horrible event in which either you or someone else risked serious injury or death, or some event in which the integrity of one's body was seriously compromised. There are six main criteria that comprise the diagnosis of PTSD. These include (1) Exposure to a serious event in which you respond in an intensely fearful, helpless, or horrifed manner, (2) Re-experiencing the event in any one or more ways, including recurring thoughts or dreams of the event, (3) Avoiding certain places, people, or things that remind you of the event or feeling emotionally "numbed" by the event, (4) Persistent symptoms of physical arousal (that is, agitation) that adversely affect appetite, sleep, concentration, and other aspects of your life, (5) Durationof the aforementioned problems is more than one month, and (6) Your problems are causing significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of your functioning. Your clinician would want to know the circumstances you confronted during the traumatic event. You may be administered some standardized psychological tests that will assess the severity of your posttraumatic stress and how it is affecting various aspects of your life. Periodically through the course of biofeedback training, your clinician may ask you to take certain tests again to see how you are progressing. Sensors Because neurofeedback is frequently used to help PTSD patients resolve trauma, non-invasive, comfortable, gold-plated EEG sensors would be utilized. Occasionally, heart rate variability training and diaphragmatic breathing instruction may be helpful. Where sensors are placed The gold-plated EEG sensors would be placed on your ear and/or ear lobes and scalp. The infrared photoplethysmograph used in heart rate variability training is typically placed on the index finger or thumb.
	Behavioral intervention
		Learning and behavioral change Utilizing the Alpha-Theta training neurofeedback technique, it may be possible for you to resolve the emotional effects of the trauma without needing to relive the trauma. Typically, in biofeedback practice, your psychologist or biofeedback clinician will help you achieve deep relaxation and peace without such an "abreaction." With repeated Alpha-Theta training sessions, you will be able to let go of the emotional "sting" of the trauma, feel more in control over yourself and your environment, and eventually resolve those negative emotions. Number of sessions The number of sessions is variable, depending upon the severity of the initial trauma and your coping skills.
	Change in behavior Goals Goals would include a resumption of your normal daily activities, elevated mood, positive anticipation of the future, thinking that your goals will be fulfilled, re-establishment of relationships with family and friends, "zest" for life.

Advanced Biofeedback Center