Shikha Verma, MD, FAPA Medical Director, Northern California Evolve Treatment Centers Danville, CaliforniaAssistant Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago, Illinois
Disclosures The authors report no financial relationships with any companies whose products are mentioned in this article, or with manufacturers of competing products.
Evidence-based interventions can help address PTSD, other symptoms in adulthood.
N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. NMDA receptor function decline has also been hypothesized to decrease the reconsolidation symptoms of PTSD.29 One study examined the prevalence of PTSD in service members who were treated for burns in a military treatment center.33 The use of the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine lowered the prevalence of PTSD among service members who were treated for burns.The suggested mechanism is preventing memory consolidation after trauma exposure.33
Bottom Line
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are strong predictors for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health or medical issues in late adolescence and adulthood. Experiencing a higher number of ACEs increases the risk of developing PTSD as an adult. Timely psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions can help limit symptoms and reduce the severity of PTSD.
Related Resources
Smith P, Dalglesih T, Meiser-Stedman R. Practitioner review: posttraumatic stress disorder and its treatment in children and adolescents. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2019;60(5):500-515.
