jeudi 23 octobre 2014

Using EMDR Therapy For PTSD Treatment

By Young Lindsay


Post traumatic stress disorder causes psychological problems like severe anxiety, persistent flashbacks, and unending nightmares among mental problems. It develops mainly after experiencing or witnessing terrifying events. These events pose a threat to the physical well-being of individuals, their lives, or those of other persons. Applying EMDR therapy for PTSD dampens the emotionally charged past memories that occur after experiencing a traumatic event.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing- EMDR offers a comprehensive as well as integrative psychological approach in treating this disorder. Epidemiology of this syndrome shows that it has a prevalence of about 8 to 10 percent in a lifetime, and is responsible for a lot of disability and morbidity. It is more common among the female gender than in their male counterparts.

Part of the brain called the amygdale, is closely linked with pathogenesis of PTSD. When this part of brain is activated by frightening input, it can induce to fear that triggers stimulation of other related structures such as nuclei parabrachial, locus ceruleus, hypothalamus, and periaqueductal gray. Such stimulation effect triggers the production of hormone and neurotransmitter substances, which are the chief cause of symptoms.

The activation and release of neurotransmitter and hormones triggers many of the symptoms observed in this disturbing syndrome. An inhibiting effect is provided by the orbitofrontal cortex on this activation. Another modulating effect to the amygdala is by the hippocampus. In patients with this disorder, the orbitofrontal cortex appears to be ineffective in inhibiting the amygdala activation mainly due to stress-induced atrophy of the nuclei involved.

There are risk factors connected to this condition such as nature of the trauma event, the personal qualities, and the subsequent events. Aspects like psychiatric illnesses suffered before the bad event, the previous exposure, genes, and the tendency of family members to suffer the syndrome are major determinants in an individual. In analyzing the exposure, things like proximity to the event, its severity, and how long it lasted are also considered.

However, in some people it may take years to show those symptoms. This syndrome also impacts on the general appearance of a person where one might show a poor personal hygiene. Non-specific symptoms may also be witnessed in patients. Complications, though not common, may develop in patients and they include anxiety and depression.

The syndrome may also affect your general appearance with patients often showing a poor personal hygiene and untidiness. Somatic complaints are also common. A few people develop complications such as depression and anxiety. Its consequences can range from subtle to avid and it affects the quality of life greatly. Other patients may have issue with drug abuse and alcohol. Other complications include eating disorders and suicidal thoughts or actions.

Treatment is both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy centered. Psychotherapy involves cognitive therapy, exposure therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. In EMDR treatment, a therapists uses his or fingers and moves them back and forth on the eyes and asks the patients to follow the motions using the eyes. The therapist also asks the patients to recall the disturbing events. Therapists may also use other methods like toe tapping and musical tones.




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