Wednesday, December 9, 2009

PTSD creates chemical changes in the brain

Two new studies are examining the chemical changes that occur in the brains of people with PTSD.

The first study, which examined 90 vets from Iraq and Afghanistan, found that those with higher levels of PTSD also had higher levels of neurosteroids in their brains.

The second study "found that veterans diagnosed with PTSD along with another syndrome, such as depression, alcohol abuse, substance abuse or suicidal ideation, had different brain images on a CT scan than did those who had been diagnosed only with PTSD."

The findings could have implications for treating PTSD by addressing it as a neurological issue rather than simply as a psychological one.

The Air Force Times has more.

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