Search for Effective PTSD Treatments Shows Some Promise

It may end up being something but mice do not commit suicide, do not grieve or care when one of their own is killed right in front of their eyes. They may freak out but I doubt they fall down on their knees regretting they lived.


REPORT AIR DATE: June 8, 2011
Search for Effective PTSD Treatments Shows Some Promise

SUMMARY
As part of a new partnership with the NewsHour, Jay Shefsky of WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" reports on scientists' search for effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Transcript
JUDY WOODRUFF: We have a science story about the search for effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It comes from WTTW Chicago Tonight, and is reported by Jay Shefsky

JAY SHEFSKY, WTTW correspondent: On the face of it, the cause of post-traumatic stress disorder seems obvious. If you live through a terrifying event, you may be left with fears and memories that can take over your life. What's not so obvious is how PTSD could be prevented once someone has experienced the trauma.

Well, Northwestern scientist Dr. Jelena Radulovic thinks the key to preventing PTSD may lie in understanding the emotion of fear on a molecular level. She runs what they call the fear lab at Northwestern's medical school.

DR. JELENA RADULOVIC, Northwestern University: In most (inaudible) so many levels in terms of psychology and cognitive science and neurobiology and neuroscience. So we study the molecular basis of fear.

SHEFSKY: In this study, they wanted to figure out the chemical changes that occur in a brain as it develops PTSD. They did this by looking at the brains of mice, but first, they subjected the mice to severe stress in two stages. In stage one, they immobilized the mouse for an hour by taping it to a board.
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Search for Effective PTSD Treatment