Trauma Is Complicated But Can Relief Be As Simple as an Injection?
Post-traumatic stress (PTS) is a prevalent and debilitating condition that doesn't discriminate against anyone. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 6 of every 10 men (or 60%) and 5 of every 10 women (or 50%) experience at least one trauma in their lives. Regardless of their age, race, gender, and religion, anyone can experience post-traumatic stress.
PTSD is a mental health condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault1.
At Stella, we replaced "Disorder" with "Injury. "Disorder" connotes a sense of permanence which is misleading because PTS is treatable. Disorder can also lead to the stigma that can prevent those who need help from asking for it. We speak more about this in our post, "What is PTSD?"
The Family Tree of Trauma
PTSI can be categorized by the three types of trauma that cause it.
Acute trauma: A single stressful or dangerous event.
Chronic trauma: Repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events.
Complex trauma: Results from exposure to multiple traumatic events.
PTSI can come after experiencing events like war, sexual assault, adoption, and domestic abuse to name only a few. It encompasses many different mental health conditions, like suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety. But because of the stigmas surrounding PTSI, over a quarter of the American population believes it is untreatable.
Current treatments that exist for people experiencing trauma symptoms can be classified as pharmacological therapies or psychotherapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure, hypnotherapy, and others. Success rates for singular therapies remain inconsistent and, or many, the formula for lasting relief combines biological and psychological interventions. Because of this, clinicians are exploring new options.
The Innovative Options
A study released earlier this year by Stella's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Eugene Lipov, Stella's Chief Psychologist, Dr. Shauna Springer, and other trauma experts concluded the Stellate Ganglion Block is an effective treatment for PTSD symptoms no matter their gender, trauma type, PTS-related drug use, history of suicide attempts, or age.
Out of the 327 patients included in the final statistical analysis, an overwhelming majority of them experienced relief in PTS symptoms after the Stellate Ganglion Block treatment. The patient population included 132 civilian females, 13 military females, 85 civilian males, and 97 military males.
The Results
Dr. Lipov identified 21 types of self-reported trauma leading to PTS for the individuals involved. Among the 21 types of reported trauma, 19 types reached statistical significance.
The PTSD Checklist (PCL), a self-report assessment, was used to gauge symptom severity and monitor changes after treatment. The average decrease in PCL score was 28.59 for men and 29.2 for women. The men and women who had a military background had a significantly greater reduction in PCL score than civilians.
Overall, the study concluded that there was a statistically significant improvement in PTS symptoms independent of the causative trauma type, gender, age greater than 20, previous suicide attempts, or use of prescription medications for PTS.
While people experience symptoms caused by emotional trauma differently, we all have one thing in common – we are looking for relief. The Stellate Ganglion Block treatment appears to hold promise for both women and men, with both military and non-military traumas.
PTS can be treated as an injury no matter the complexity of the trauma.
Is the Stellate Ganglion Block Right for You?
The Stellate Ganglion Block is a fast, effective, and research-back treatment and when combined with talk therapy, and other mental health solutions recommended by your providers, can be the new standard of care. Stella simplifies the healing journey. An Advanced Practice Provider will review symptoms and medical histories to determine if the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is the right treatment plan. More than 80% of Stella patients find relief from their PTSI symptoms. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us directly by calling 908-293-7559.
1. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp