Perspectives in Psychiatric Care Vol. 43, No. 3, July, 2007 113

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EDITORIAL

EditorialEditorial

Editorial

Healing Trauma: Finding Treatments That Work

In the last three decades numerous treatments havebeen studied and implemented in an effort to reducethe chronicity and comorbidity of traumatic events(Lasiuk & Hegadoren, 2006). This issue of

Perspectivesin Psychiatric Care

is devoted to discussing evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) and the latest understanding of how traumaprofoundly affects and changes the neurobiologyand psychology of the individual who has experienceda trauma. Not included in this issue but worth men-tioning are some novel treatments being studied thatseem to hold promise for more choices in dealing withthe aftereffects of trauma.

Propranolol and Prazosin

Scientists are now researching whether the com-monly used heart drugs known as beta-adrenergicblockers can help dampen the stress brought about bytraumatic memories. Propranolol may be an effectivetreatment for PTSD and is being investigated to seeif immediate treatment with propranolol decreasesposttraumatic stress (Pitman et al., 2002). Recent re-search demonstrates that prazosin, sold under thebrand name Minipress, improves sleep and reducestraumatic nightmares in veterans with PTSD (Raskindet al., 2007).

Virtual Reality Exposure

Healing traumatic stress is being taken to a newlevel with the advent of virtual reality (VR). With theUnited States engaged in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,PTSD has become an increasingly significant issuethat requires innovative interventions to treat the largenumber of soldiers returning with symptoms of PTSDand who are doing second and third tours of duty. Foryears the gold standard of treatment for PTSD wasprolonged exposure therapy and group therapy.Currently, Madigan Army Medical Center is in the

process of fine-tuning a new therapy for combat-relatedPTSD that involves recreating the sites, smells, sounds,and feel of Iraq with the use of a virtual reality helmet(Young, 2007). The new technology provides a tool forveterans to vividly, yet safely, confront war experiencesand allow reintegration of the parts of the self thatwere unable to tolerate the trauma when it originallyoccurred. Repeatedly revisiting the experience andexposing oneself to the overwhelming fear eventuallyleads to lessening the consequences and symptoms asa result of the trauma. Experience has shown that forPTSD, eight to ten sessions are needed.

Given the number of natural disasters, terroristattacks, and war-related traumas the world has recentlyexperienced, it is imperative that the medical com-munity focus time and money studying not only theeffects of PTSD, but valid treatments that work toprevent and/or minimize the symptoms. Advancedpractice psychiatric nurses are treatment providers andcan participate in doing research. It is a specialty thatwe can excel in, and we need to stay abreast of the latestresearch on PTSD.

Mary Paquette, PhD, APRN-BC

mary@artwindows.com

References

Lasiuk, G. C., & Hegadoren, K. M. (2006). Posttraumatic stress dis-order Part I: Historical development of the concept.

Perspectivesin Psychiatric Care

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42

(1), 13–20.

Pitman, R. K., Sanders, K. M., Zusman, R. M., Healy, A. R., Cheema,F., Lasko, N. B., et al. (2002). Pilot study of secondary preventionof posttraumatic stress disorder with propranolol.

BiologicalPsychiatry

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51

(2), 189–192.

Raskind, M. A., Elaine, R., Peskind, D. J., Hoff, K. L., Hart, H. A.,Holmes, D. W., et al. (2007). A parallel group placebo controlledstudy of prazosin for trauma nightmares and sleep disturbancein combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

BiologicalPsychiatry

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(8), 928–934.

Young, R. (2007). New virtual PTSD treatment.

Today in the Military

.Accessed on April 1, 2007, http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,129993,00.html