Objective: This open-label clinical trial examined the preliminary efficacy of combining a course of 6 ketamine infusions with a brief, evidence-based exposure-based psychotherapy-written exposure therapy (WET)-in patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: The trial was conducted between June 2021 and October 2023. Patients with chronic PTSD and high-moderate to severe...
IntroductionFirefighters face routine occupational risks and high-stress environments. Accordingly, 96.4% are exposed to a potentially traumatizing event throughout their career (Nazari et al. Work 2020; 67(1):215-222). This is accompanied by high rates of trauma-related mental illnesses (TRMI) such as PTSD. First-line treatments of TRMI remain limited. A novel treatment that has emerged,...
Objective: This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of delivering Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) to veterans with moral injury and co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder (PTSD-SUD). Methods: Veterans (N = 26; M age = 50.92; 100% male) were recruited for an 8-week MSC group. Participants completed measures of self-compassion, guilt, shame, PTSD, and substance use outcomes at...
Given the widespread interest and ongoing study on MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for PTSD, its implications for unique populations-such as adolescents-require further understanding. Social workers will likely play a crucial role in the potential implementation of this intervention, but their perspectives remain unknown. The study includes 222 social workers randomized to read one of two...
Trauma is prevalent, with lifetime estimates of traumatic exposure ranging from 70% for a single event to 31% for multiple events. While many recover, a subset develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating condition characterized by distressing memories, avoidance behaviors, hyperarousal, and mood disturbances. The National Comorbidity Survey reports a lifetime PTSD prevalence...
To critically evaluate published and unpublished systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the safety and efficacy of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. Six bibliometric databases and grey literature were searched from inception to 9 May 2024 for systematic reviews on the safety and efficacy of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted...
Symptoms of insomnia, nightmares, and trauma are highly prevalent. However, there are significant barriers to accessing evidence-based treatments for these conditions, leading to poor mental health outcomes. This pilot trial evaluated the feasibility of a 4-week, digital self-paced intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy...
Ketamine has been investigated as a treatment alternative for PTSD for the last 20 years, yet there have been virtually no reports of biological changes or biomarker characterisation related to treatment. To address this significant gap, this study analysed blood samples from 25 participants with PTSD who took part in an open-label 6-week trial of low dose oral ketamine treatment. Serum and...
Military MedicineFebruary 27, 2025Eugene Lipov, Hunter Rolain, Troy Neufeld1 citation
Canadian Special Operation Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) operators have been extensively deployed in recent conflicts. They are at risk of trauma and blast exposure as well as the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI). Current psychotherapy and pharmacological approaches provide suboptimal resolution of PTSD and bTBI symptoms. Prior research...
This brief review article will describe treatment approaches for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on findings from basic research. The focus of this review will be fear conditioning and extinction models, which provide a translational model of PTSD that can help translate basic research in nonhuman animals through well-controlled trials confirming the efficacy of treatment approaches...