Military Medicine
June 1, 2011
98 citations
In an uncontrolled pilot study, five veterans from recent wars with combat-related PTSD were trained in transcendental meditation and followed for 12 weeks. All participants improved on the primary PTSD symptom measure, with an average score reduction of 31.4 points. Significant improvements were also seen in clinician-rated severity, quality of life, and a self-reported PTSD checklist. The findings suggest that TM may help alleviate PTSD symptoms and improve quality of life in this small group, but larger, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm efficacy.
Military Medicine
September 29, 2014
Cassandra Craig, George H Loeffler
22 citations
Methoxetamine is a dissociative designer drug sold as a legal alternative to ketamine, acting on NMDA and serotonin receptors. Marketed as 'bladder friendly,' it may cause renal and cystic toxicity similar to ketamine. Users experience dissociation and, at high doses, an 'm-hole' of extreme depersonalization. Thirteen cases of acute toxicity show a toxidrome of dissociation, delirium, sympathetic activation, and cerebellar symptoms. The drug is not detected in standard urine tests. Management is supportive with benzodiazepines, antiemetics, IV fluids, and respiratory support. Usage may increase in the United States in early 2014, following a typical two-year lag from Europe.
Military Medicine
December 24, 2022
Joshua C. Gray, Mikela A. Murphy, Sierra Carter et al.
10 citations
Service members and veterans with traumatic brain injury and co-occurring symptoms initially held neutral views of psychedelic drugs and psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT). After a brief psychoeducation session, their views of psychedelic drugs and interest in PAT became significantly more positive. Most participants supported making PAT available in medical settings if proven beneficial and would support a loved one engaging in PAT. The most common health concerns were long-term effects (43%), fear of losing one's mind (33%), fear of personality changes (33%), and fear of traumatic brain injury complications (24%). Logistical barriers included time, transportation, finances, work, and childcare, though 48% reported no barriers.
Military Medicine
April 21, 2022
Stephan Rudzki
7 citations
PTSD may be maintained by unrestrained cytokine signaling that induces epigenetic changes, promoting a defensive survival adaptation. The brain associates immune signals with past threats, initiating defensive behavior. Prolonged cholinergic withdrawal fosters chronic inflammation. IL-1β, an innate immune cytokine, regulates autonomic, glucocorticoid, and glutamate receptor functions, sleep, memory, and epigenetic enzymes; its levels correlate with PTSD severity and duration. Hydrocortisone given in acute sepsis can prevent PTSD, supporting unrestrained inflammation as a risk factor. Psychedelic drugs like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine have immunosuppressive effects that may contribute to their benefit. PTSD may be a cost of genomic flexibility that aids adaptation and survival.