Recent VA Study Presents New Findings on PTSD

Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) March 24, 2021 – A new study, the most in-depth to date, on post-mortem brain tissue presents groundbreaking findings on posttraumatic stress disorder that will be useful in diagnosing and treating the condition. The study was conducted by researchers from the VA National Center for PTSD, the VA’s National PTSD Brain Bank and Yale University School of Medicine. Their findings were published online in the journal Nature Neuroscience on Dec. 21, 2020.

Researchers used the post-mortem brain tissue of PTSD patients to identify the molecular changes in the brain caused by the condition. It is the first research to find that PTSD causes genetic changes that are both gender-specific and unique to different regions of the brain.

“The results from this study could have a dramatic effect on the way veterans with PTSD are diagnosed and treated,” said James G. Fausone, lead attorney at VA disability firm Legal Help for Veterans. “I’m hopeful it will be a key breakthrough for the men and women who have come home from serving our country with these invisible wounds.”

One of the biggest findings in the study was that women are more likely than men to develop PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event. There is evidence to support that men and women respond to treatment differently too, which could mean that a one-size-fits-all approach to treating PTSD might not be appropriate. Separate treatment protocols for men and women could be beneficial overall.

The study also showed major differences in how PTSD and depression physically manifest in the brain. Some symptoms overlap between the two conditions, and about half of those diagnosed with PTSD are also diagnosed with depression. However, this finding could potentially help medical professionals better distinguish between the conditions and offer patients a more effective treatment course.

“It is important for researchers to continue to learn about this condition so we can advance our knowledge of how PTSD works and how to treat it effectively,” continued Fausone. “A study like this that results in groundbreaking findings is really exciting.”

For more information on how PTSD affects veterans, visit Legal Help for Veterans online at https://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/. Legal Help for Veterans is a veteran owned and operated law firm based in Northville, Michigan that exclusively handles VA disability claims.

Learn more at http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC 41700 West Six Mile Road, Suite 101 Northville, MI 48168 Toll Free Phone: 800.693.4800