Nationwide, about 8 million people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, from military veterans to victims of sexual abuse. Symptoms often persist long after the original trauma occurred, and can include everything from extreme stress or fear to vivid flashbacks.
However, while clinical professionals say treatment for PTSD, ranging from counseling to medication, has improved, experts agree there remains a need to fine-tune therapies. And one question inspires – and puzzles – clinicians and researchers alike. “If we intervene immediately,” after a person experiences a traumatic event, says Dr. Matthew Friedman, senior advisor to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD, “can we prevent the later development of PTSD?”
[For more of this story, written by Michael O. Schroeder, go to http://health.usnews.com/healt...revented-post-trauma]
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