Link Between Seizures and Trauma, Mood Disorders Getting More Attention
When 46-year-old Jane Smith underwent marriage therapy with her husband, the sessions unlocked parts of Jane’s memory that she said she repressed for over a decade — memories with frightening powers.
“I began remembering witnessing my brother being abused… And I began to remember my own abuse,” said Jane, who requested her real name not be used. She said she later realized that she was physically and sexually abused by family members starting at age 4.
Jane confronted her parents, saying she wanted to talk about it, but they did not want to.
“Two weeks later I got a letter from them saying, ‘Don’t contact us again,'” Jane said.
That was when her seizures began. link to continue reading
Source: abc News

New research from Geisinger PTSD expert Dr. Joseph Boscarino sheds light on what factors may predispose someone to posttraumatic stress. In a recently published study, Dr. Boscarino concludes that low self esteem, negative life events and lack of a support network greatly increase the likelihood of PTSD [continue reading…]

The BBC reports on how playing the computer puzzle game Tetris can help reduce the effects of traumatic stress.
Volunteers were exposed to distressing images, with some given the game to play 30 minutes later, the PLoS One journal reported.
Players had fewer “flashbacks”, perhaps because it helped disrupt the laying down of memories, said the scientists.
It is hoped the study could aid the development of new strategies for minimising the impact of trauma. Link to continue reading
Source: BBC

Emily A. Holmes, Ella L. James, Thomas Coode-Bate, Catherine Deeprose (2009). Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science. PLoS ONE, 4 (1) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004153 (open access).
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