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Prevention and Intervention of
PTSD
“Night Terrors”
Authors:
Richard C. Bice1, Ryan P. Esplin2, and Betsegaw Gebrehiwot3
1 Mechanical Engineering, UTA ([email protected])
2 Quantum Physics, TCC ([email protected])
3 Mechanical Engineering, UTA ([email protected])
ELeVATEExperiential Learning for Veterans in
Assistive Technology and Engineering*
Abstract
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs' website (2014), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs in eleven to twenty percent of veterans from Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. A prevalent symptom of PTSD is very vivid and intense nightmares. To prevent patients from experiencing the symptoms of nightmares from PTSD before sleeping and while sleeping, a two part solution is proposed.
The preventative actions consist of a wireless headset that transmits brain-wave data that will train the patient's self-regulatory and mental functions. Initial investigation shows that neuro-feedback has effective results for complimentary management of PTSD symptoms. Preventative feedback can be gathered before the patient goes to sleep. A second part of the solution is then applied if the patient continues experiencing bad dreams while sleeping.
While sleeping, the patient can be monitored by nightmare detection and intervention system. Such a system would utilize the latest in contact-free biometric technology to monitor the respiratory and heart rate, and possibly even brainwaves of the user. Upon detection of a nightmare, the system would awaken the patient using customized visual and audio stimuli.
Through the simultaneous use of both systems, the patient could see significant reduction in nightmare frequency and the negative effects of PTSD night terrors.
Introduction
Of the various symptoms of PTSD, “Night Terrors” receives the least attention and study. As a prevalent and disruptive symptom which interferes with a productive lifestyle, “Night Terrors” is worthy of study. This symptom is a very vivid and intense nightmare that can be experienced when an individual suffers from PTSD. Currently, a technological system is not in place to supplement management therapies for this condition. The researchers find many patients may benefit from additional more options for their management of “Night Terrors” (What Dreams May Come: Treating the Nightmares of PTSD, 2014).
Method I: Prevention• Learn to control brainwaves alpha-theta (Figure 1)• Visualize nightmares and flashbacks with eyes closed for 5-minutes• Visualize normal scenes of their personalities with eyes closed for 5-
minutes• Rotate between the two states for a total session of 30-minutes• Continue once-a-day cycle for 28-days
• Private companies have pioneered this technology to be user friendly
• Studies show this method to be an effective and ethical treatment in prevention and relapse of night terror symptoms
• More studies must be done in order for these methods to be used in the medical community.
Results
Method II: Intervention
• Research specific scientific discoveries and technologies that could be used to make a nightmare detection and intervention system a reality (I.E. Contact-free biometric sensors, Wireless technology, Sleep study research, Computer programming)
• Interviews with previously diagnosed PTSD patients.
Results
• Interviews with veterans conclude that nightmare intervention technology would be welcome.
• Sleep studies show that it is possible to determine whether or not a patient is in a nightmare-like state based on brain wave and biometric monitoring.
• All monitoring can be done completely contact-free thus making it possible without the patient having to wear a device to sleep.
How it will work• There's contact-free biomedical sensors hidden within the patients bed that
monitor the physiological systems needed for nightmare detection
• These sensors relay that data to a ceiling mounted hub that is programmed to determine whether or not the patient is experiencing a nightmare.
• Upon detection, the hub uses visual and audible stimuli (I.E. family pictures projected on the wall, recordings of familiar voices) to subtly wake the patient out of their bad dream.
• Once awake, the patient can use voice control to either turn the system off and return to sleep, or continue to enjoy relaxing music or media of their choice.
• The system can also automatically send data gathered to a local specialist who can use this data to further diagnose and plan treatment for sleep disorders.
How this System will Help
This system can drastically reduce the amount of time patients spend awake at night. It also interrupts their nightmares so they do not constantly have to relieve traumatic experiences as they sleep. Overall this system can dramatically increase the quality of sleep that the patient is getting while providing invaluable data to specialist regarding their condition. “Even brief experimental sleep deprivation in normal subjects has clear-cut adverse effects on cognition, mood, and frontal lobe function” (Lydiard, Hammer, 2009). A better night’s sleep free from violent dreams will help the patient’s ability to focus during the day as well as their overall happiness.
Conclusion
• Through the simultaneous use of both a preventative and intervention systems for PTSD night terrors, patients can see significant reduction in the harmful effects of PTSD on their daily lives.
• Currently, brainwave training shows to be an efficacious treatment for PTSD nightmares; however, the studies show insufficient evidence to assume unequivocal clinical utility. Future work must show clear methodology and raise more awareness in order to bring these types of adjunct treatments to the medical community.
• Additionally, since the technology to create a nonintrusive night terror intervention system exists, the next necessary step is bringing together medical and technological experts and hardware to develop the actual system.
ReferencesBrink, Muller & Scierz, M. C. & C. (2006). Contact-Free Measurement of heart rate, respiration rate and body movements during sleep. Retrieved from
http://www.laerm2000.ethz.ch/files/Brink%20et%20al.%20Behav%20Res%20Methods%202006,%2038%20%283%29,%20511-521.pdf
EEG Info. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://news.eeginfo.com/?p=654 Evans, J. R., & Abarbanel, A. 1999. San Diego, California: Academic Press.Othmer, S. (2009). EEG Info. Retrieved from http://news.eeginfo.com/?p=367Othmer, S. (2009). EEG Info. Retrieved from http://news.eeginfo.com/?p=312Othmer and Othmer, S. & S. F. (2009). Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback. Retrieved from http://www.eeginfo.com/research/articles/PTSD-NeurofeedbackRemedy.pdfPeniston, E. G. & Kulkosky, Paul J. (1991). Alpha-Theta Brainwave Neuro-Feedback. Retrieved from http://charleston.braincoretherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/PENISTON-PTSD.pdfPeniston, E. O. (1998). Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Retrieved from http://www.aaets.org/article47.htm Perez Franco, Jaime B. (2008). Automatic Classification of human sleep. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/305385886U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. (2008). PTSD: National Center for PTSD. Retrieved from
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/how-common-is-ptsd.aspU.S. National Institutes of Health. (2014). Clinical Trails.gov. Retrieved from http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01591408University of Texas at El Paso. (2005). Digital Commons@UTEP. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1430970/ What Dreams May Come: Treating the Nightmares of PTSD. (2014). PLOS Blogs. Retrieved from http://blogs.plos.org/mindthebrain/2013/11/19/what-dreams-may-come-treating-the- nightmares-of-ptsd/
Acknowledgements• We would like to extend a special thanks to NSF and the Veterans
Upward Bound program at UTA for funding and resources.
• We would also like to thank the following people for their guidance and contributions to our research.
• Dereje Aganafer, PhD, Mechanical Engineer
• The Veterans Upward Bound Staff include:• Audrey Etta Lane, Instructor• Corey Hines, Educational Advisor• Pete Fitch, Coordinator• Kim Bennet, Support Specialist• Kristen Wilson, Program Assistant• Lisa Thompson, Director
• We would also like to thank our interviewees for their invaluable insight into the mind of someone who suffers from PTSD:• Vice president Virgil Holbert, Student Veterans Organization • Lezette Montion, Public Affairs Officer for SVO
* Support for this program is provided by the National Science Foundation. Grant # EEC 1232336.
