PTSD

Dr. Wolford sees many patients with PTSD and will screen each patient for a history of abuse, trauma, domestic violence, and accidents. Certain symptoms can present such as flashbacks, trigger avoidance, nightmares, heightened startle response, tendency to become defensive or angry, as well as panic & anxiety. FDA approved medications will be used for treatment in both SSRI and SNRI classes.

One major symptoms of patients is attention deficit and memory complaints which arise when the fear center of the brain known as the Amygdala is over-stimulated causing increased Cortisol release from the adrenal glands. Normal feedback mechanisms in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands are impaired. Finally we see a decrease in size of the Hippocampus which is responsible for short term memory. The following meds in the next paragraph have shown a beneficial effect for this.

Also adjuncts can be utilized for nightmare prevention (alpha antagonist), or the alpha agonist medications in order to reduce baseline over-activation, anxiety, and insomnia via stimulating the alpha2 receptors. Memory & concentration deficits should return to normal as well. Blood pressure will be monitored in these patients as a precaution. Therapy of course is a mainstay of treatment and necessary to process past events.

Our goal at Las Vegas Psychiatry is to treat all of our patients with this condition to ensure comfort and high-functioning.