Shell shocked: Now it's called PTSD, and researchers are working to help people cope

By Leslie Cardé | Contributing Writer

“There is a genetic component to this disorder,” said Jacklyn Ruhl, PhD, an Ochsner psychologist. “In fact, the National Institutes of Health has said genetic risk factors account for 30-40% of PTSD. Trauma can be generational — passed down in your DNA to your descendants."

Anyone can develop PTSD at any stage of life. This can include children who’ve experienced sexual abuse, war veterans, victims of sexual assault and those who’ve experienced horrific accidents or natural disasters. The sudden loss of a loved one, a home or a job raises the risk of PTSD.

“We know about historical trauma,” recounted researcher Tonya Hansel, PhD, LMSW, Associate Professor, Tulane School of Social Work. “Being raised in a traumatic environment can have dramatic repercussions. We know that stress shortens telomeres, the protective caps at the end of chromosomes. If they become so short that the genes they protect are damaged, it has a harmful effect on our physiology.”

According to the National Center for PTSD, approximately seven or eight out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men.

It is unclear exactly why some people develop PTSD and others don’t, but resilience factors can help reduce the risk of the disorder.

Some of the factors that promote healing after trauma include seeking out support from other people, such as friends and family, finding support groups after traumatic events and, most importantly, having a positive coping strategy.

Medication for PTSD generally involves antidepressants to alleviate symptoms of sadness, worry and feeling numb inside. Other medications may be needed to treat symptoms such as sleeplessness and nightmares.

Psychotherapy, both individually and in groups, has proven successful. A couple of cognitive behavioral therapies have been effective. Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient to the original trauma, even visiting the place where the event happened.

Cognitive restructuring helps people make sense of the bad memories, as sometimes people remember the traumatic event differently than the way it actually happened.

“It can take anywhere from eight to 16 weeks to see benefits in treatment,” Ruhl said. “Patients may have some symptoms when therapy is over, but they may no longer meet the criteria for PTSD. Success is taking away the stress impairment.”

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?

PTSD in children can look very different from the disorder in adults. Their responses can be mislabeled by teachers who are dealing with different behavior, not always understanding why.

“If something violent happens to a member of the child’s family, they then worry about the safety of others in the family, and their hyper-vigilance can mimic the symptoms of ADHD," said Julie Kaplow, executive director of The Trauma and Grief Center at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.

“Many kids experience social withdrawal. Not wanting to leave their home looks a lot like depression. And sometimes, conduct problems may manifest in the classroom. Kids may be reminded of the trauma, and then lash out at another child, sometimes getting mislabeled as a problem child. Educating the teachers to what has happened to that student rather than what’s wrong with the student is critical.”

Children respond to trauma by not eating or sleeping, perhaps crawling into bed with parents.

With very young children, there might be regression in language skills or bedwetting. Irritability can result in tantrums. With older kids, there are more risk-taking behaviors, even suicidal ideations.

“There are some stark differences when trauma involves the death of a loved one,” Kaplow said. “Grief reactions involve yearning and longing, wondering how they’ll do without that person. There are often questions and concerns about how the person died: 'Can I catch cancer?' If a person close to them was shot and killed, they assume maybe they’re next.”

The Trauma and Grief Center treats children between the ages of 1 and 21. Since the center opened its doors in November 2021, the demand has been greater than anyone expected. With deaths from COVID, and the high rates of homicide, children have had a real need for counseling.

If your child has experienced trauma or grief, there is no referral necessary. The center can be reached at (504) 584-8433, Option 5 --- Leslie Cardé