Posted by dessbee on December 11, 2006, at 8:49:45
A recent pilot study suggests that propranolol (Inderol - beta-adrenergic antagonist), administered after an acute traumatic event, have a preventive effect on the subsequent development of PTSD
People confronted by a life-threatening situation, such as a car accident or physical assault, react by releasing a rush of stress hormones, including adrenalin and noradrenalin, which are produced in the adrenal glands, located atop the kidneys. This response, known as "adrenergic activation," initiates the reactions that quicken the heart rate, constrict the vasculature to prevent bleeding to death, and provide energy to the muscles, priming the body to "fight, flee, or freeze." The hormonal flood also strengthens the brain’s ability to form and retain emotional memories.
Those likely to develop PTSD tend to have a pre-existing depression or anxiety disorder, or a family history of anxiety and neuroticism.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/22/60minutes/main2205629.shtml
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/studien/bericht-22740.html
poster:dessbee
thread:712533
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20061203/msgs/712533.html