This week, we look into a new PTSD assessment tool, unearth new data on adults with ADHD, and share a report on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Emory Streamlines Assessment for Care, Trials
Failure to benefit from established treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains as common as it is frustrating. And veterans struggle more than most.
A team of Emory University researchers have developed a new tool – the Emory Treatment Resistance Interview for PTSD, Short Version (E-TRIP-S) – to streamline how clinicians identify patients resistant to standard therapies.
The E-TRIP-S evaluates patients’ past responses to first-line psychotherapies – such as Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing – as well as medications such SSRIs and venlafaxine.
Unlike its more complex predecessor, the shorter version focuses on two core PTSD symptom clusters: intrusive memories and avoidance behaviors. Patients report whether treatments “definitely helped,” “helped a little,” or “didn’t help,” providing a practical way to capture treatment history.
In a study of 102 veterans and service members entering an intensive outpatient program, most had already tried evidence-based interventions. Only 28% of psychotherapy patients and 23% of medication patients reported definite improvement in core symptoms.
Notably, a quarter of participants who failed one treatment type found relief when switched to the other. This, the authors argue, reinforces the need for flexible, tailored care.
Researchers say the E-TRIP-S could be a valuable tool in both clinical and research settings. The authors say that it could better guide treatment decisions, identify patients with treatment-resistant PTSD, and better inform trial design for new therapies.
This new assessment’s brevity and focus could help bridge a long-standing gap in PTSD care.
IN OTHER PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROLOGY NEWS
- Adults with ADHD often endure emotional dysregulation, and a new U.S. study in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows these symptoms act as “bridges,” linking attention and hyperactivity traits.
- The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders this week reports on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), a life-saving but high-risk procedure for blood and immune disorders.
- JCP also has some updated statistics on psychiatric doctor burnout before and after COVID.
- PCC also published a pair of case reports involving valproic acid, a widely used antiepileptic and mood stabilizer.
- And, finally, we have news about a new study that offers some hope for those with Parkinson’s disease.
