Scientists Say Shock Collar-Like Device Can Treat PTSD

Using a mysterious device like a shock collar, researchers say they have found a promising method for treating PTSD.

Neuroscientists at the University of Texas in Dallas and Paylor have developed a small chip, when installed inside a soft collar and placed it directly over the vague nerve – a group of a trunk in the brain that controls physical functions such as heart rate, digestion, immunity, and mood – raises light electrical impulses that can help reduce PTSD symptoms.

The primary concept behind vagus nervous stimulation, or VNS, is interesting. Scientists believe that stimulating the nerve can help adapt and change at the nervous level. For years, VNS has been used to treat everything from epilepsy and depression to sleep deprivation and tinnitus. Today, there are even VNS mobile devices in the market that allow people to raise their brains at home.

However, this new experimental therapy differs from previous VNS applications because it does not only involve the stimulating of the targeted excessive nerves, but it also works alongside the traditional method of treatment known as “prolonged exposure treatment” or PET, as the survivors of post -traumatic disorder face their shocking memories in the hope of overcoming them.

In the experiments of the first stage, nervous researchers in Texas had nine patients who completed a total of 12 sessions that include both vague nerve stimulation and long exposure treatment. After the end of these sessions, patients went to four examination operations over a period of six months-significantly, all symptoms of post-traumatic disorder disappeared.

In the school’s press statement, Professor of Neuroscience at UT Dallas and study leader Michael Kelgd said that the results were “very promising” – despite the very small sample size.

“In an experience like this, some topics usually improve, but they rarely lose the diagnosis Brain stimulationHe said. “Usually, the majority will have this diagnosis for the rest of their lives. In this case, we had 100 percent loss of the diagnosis.”

This progress in the treatment of post -traumatic disorder, according to clinical psychologists and paper author Mark Powers, completely changes the game. A veteran VNS researcher witnessed that technology “has changed greatly” his work on psychological trauma – and this last study pushes home to some extent it can be revolutionary.

The psychologist said: “Our standard gold treatments for post -traumatic disorder necessities are about 85 percent of the response rate, as 40 percent are no longer their diagnosis, and the leakage rate is 20 percent.” “We quickly have a VNS option for people who do not improve with cognitive behavioral therapy alone.”

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