6 Reports That Shine a Light on Stress and Trauma

Accelerated Resolution Therapy for PTSD. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an emerging, efficient therapy for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions. It is derived from Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), but it has a tighter protocol, is more directive, more procedural, and easier to learn. ART can be used in conjunction with other trauma-focused therapies. This article discusses the clinical utility of ART, as well as the research behind it.

Treating Recalcitrant PTSD With ECT: Are We There Yet? Given the severe burden, grave suffering, and lack of remission with standard therapeutics in many patients with PTSD, preliminary data on the role of ECT seems promising. The risk of cognitive adverse effects (eg, long disorientation duration, memory impairments), has been one of the factors that historically limited ECT use. However, modern modifications of ECT parameters have substantially limited these cognitive risks to a smaller portion of patients. For instance, the modern development and use of rectangular instead of sine wave pulse, ultra-brief instead of brief pulse, and right unilateral (RUL) instead of bilateral (BL) electrode placement have improved cognitive effects of ECT.

Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches for PTSD. Although efficacious treatments for PTSD have been established, many individuals remain symptomatic after treatment or never seek empirically supported therapies. There is emerging evidence to support the recommendation of CIH approaches as complementary treatments for PTSD, and interest and preference can guide the selection of technique(s). These approaches include meditation, yoga, relaxation, physical exercise, acupuncture, and herbal remedies to ameliorate symptoms.

PTSD in Late Life. Some older adults who may have experienced trauma do not recognize the potential deleterious health effects or do not disclose these experiences to health care providers. Moreover, health care providers may not recognize trauma and related distress in older adults. This lack of recognition or misattribution of trauma-related symptoms can have negative implications for treatment and recovery, including the design of ineffective treatment plans and administration of incongruous psychotherapy, medication, or other medical intervention.

Physician Work-Associated Trauma: Causes, Consequences, and Interventions. To goal of this free CME is to understand the etiology of work-associated trauma in physicians, adverse psychological and behavioral responses, and evidence-based interventions. The author describes the causes of work-associated trauma in physicians, the consequences of traumatic exposure on physicians, and the interventions available for treating physicians who have been exposed to trauma,