Dealing with invisible scars of war: PTSD in Veterans
Scholarly review . September 15, 2023 Alexandra Dimitrova
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains a persistent mental injury among veterans, often overlooked compared to physical wounds. Prevention treatments target those most at risk based on deployment details and demographics. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) and cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) have decreased PTSD scores in certain populations. Social support from civilians is crucial for protecting veterans from developing or worsening PTSD. First-line evidence-based psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies show significant symptom reduction and remission rates, yet remain ineffective for many patients due to personal preference or lack of efficacy. Alternative treatments—psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, alcohol interventions, breathing-based meditative sessions, and potentially 3-MDR—have shown symptom decreases for those who found first-line treatments ineffective or undesirable, though generally less effective than standard therapies. More research is needed.