PTSD – Desperate Healthwise

There is a treatment called stellate ganglion block (SGB) for PTSD. The military is investing money into investigating it.

For diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, anesthetic is injected into the neck. It can offer immediate relief to PTSD. In May 2019 it was available at available at 12 VA hospitals. Might still be in trials.

“This is how the procedure works: a local anesthetic is injected deep into the neck to bathe a cluster of nerves called the stellate ganglion.
These nerves help control the brain’s fight or flight reactions, signals that go haywire with PTSD.

Doctors use a fluoroscope and contrasting dye, you can see it spread out next to the spine, to guide the needle to the stellate ganglion. When the anesthetic is injected it seems to numb, or turn off, the PTSD symptoms. It clears the body in a day, but the effects last up to 6 months, for some even longer. There are no known side effects.”
CBS News, “SGB: A possible breakthrough treatment for PTSD“

The molecule MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) has been used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in a single dose. If you suffer from PTSD, mark your calendar. It is being fast-tracked by the FDA and is expected to be legal in ~2022.

“Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling and potentially life-threatening mental health condition that can be caused by one-time or ongoing events including discrimination and oppression, war, sexual assault, childhood abuse, torture, accidents, and other stressful events. People who suffer from PTSD often relive their traumatic experiences through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. Symptoms can be severe and long-lasting, creating negative impacts on a person’s daily life and well-being.
When administered in a clinical setting with trained therapy providers, MDMA has proven to be a powerful adjunct to psychotherapy, which assists individuals in processing traumatic experiences in a deep and profound manner, leading to the alleviation of suffering. Clinical research indicates that MDMA may catalyze therapeutic processing by allowing participants to stay emotionally engaged when revisiting traumatic experiences, without feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or other painful emotions.”
—MAPS.org

Help Veterans and Victims of PTSD

Please donate to the matching grant at capstone.maps.org before September 10th 2020, or MAPS.org thereafter.