Pine Rest Mission Statement
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is called to express the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by providing behavioral health services with professional excellence, Christian integrity and compassion.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.

Among those who may experience PTSD are military troops who served in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars; rescue workers involved in the aftermath of disasters like the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.; survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing; survivors of accidents, rape, physical and sexual abuse, and other crimes; immigrants fleeing violence in their countries; survivors of the 1994 California earthquake, the 1997 North and South Dakota floods, and hurricanes Hugo and Andrew; and people who witness traumatic events. Family members of victims also can develop the disorder. PTSD can occur in people of any age, including children and adolescents.

Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD also experience emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger. Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people with PTSD try to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than 1 month.

Physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal distress, immune system problems, dizziness, chest pain, or discomfort in other parts of the body are common in people with PTSD. Often, doctors treat these symptoms without being aware that they stem from an anxiety disorder.

Facts About PTSD

• An estimated 5.2 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or approximately 3.6 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD.
• About 30 percent of Vietnam veterans developed PTSD at some point after the war. The disorder also has been detected among veterans of the Persian Gulf War, with some estimates running as high as 8 percent.
• More than twice as many women as men experience PTSD following exposure to trauma.
• Depression, alcohol or other substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with PTSD. The likelihood of treatment success is increased when these other conditions are appropriately diagnosed and treated as well.

Treatments for PTSD

PTSD can be extremely debilitating. Fortunately, research - including studies supported by NIMH and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has led to the development of treatments to help people with PTSD.

Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and exposure therapy, in which the person gradually and repeatedly re-lives the frightening experience under controlled conditions to help him or her work through the trauma. Studies also have found that several types of medication, particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants, can help relieve the symptoms of PTSD.

Other research shows that giving people an opportunity to talk about their experiences very soon after a catastrophic event may reduce some of the symptoms of PTSD. A study of 12,000 schoolchildren who lived through a hurricane in Hawaii found that those who got counseling early on were doing much better 2 years later than those who did not.
Research Findings

Research is continuing to reveal factors that may lead to PTSD. People who have been abused as children or who have had other previous traumatic experiences are more likely to develop the disorder. In addition, it used to be believed that people who tend to be emotionally numb after a trauma were showing a healthy response; but now some researchers suspect that people who experience this emotional distancing may be more prone to PTSD.

Studies in animals and humans have focused on pinpointing the specific brain areas and circuits involved in anxiety and fear, which are important for understanding anxiety disorders such as PTSD.12 Fear, an emotion that evolved to deal with danger, causes an automatic, rapid protective response in many systems of the body. It has been found that the fear response is coordinated by a small structure deep inside the brain, called the amygdala. The amygdala, although relatively small, is a very complicated structure, and recent research suggests that different anxiety disorders may be associated with abnormal activation of the amygdala.

People with PTSD tend to have abnormal levels of key hormones involved in response to stress. When people are in danger, they produce high levels of natural opiates, which can temporarily mask pain. Scientists have found that people with PTSD continue to produce those higher levels even after the danger has passed; this may lead to the blunted emotions associated with the condition.

Some studies have shown that cortisol levels are lower than normal and epinephrine and norepinephrine are higher than normal. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter released during stress, and one of its functions is to activate the hippocampus, the brain structure involved with organizing and storing information for long-term memory.

This action of norepinephrine is thought to be one reason why people generally can remember emotionally arousing events better than other situations. Under the extreme stress of trauma, norepinephrine may act longer or more intensely on the hippocampus, leading to the formation of abnormally strong memories that are then experienced as flashbacks or intrusions. Since cortisol normally limits norepinephrine activation, low cortisol levels may represent a significant risk factor for developing PTSD.

Research to understand these neurotransmitter systems involved in memories of emotionally charged events may lead to the discovery of drugs or psychosocial interventions that, if given early, could block the development of PTSD symptoms.

This article was excerpted from the NIMH article located at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/reliving.cfm. Additional information and references may be obtained there.

Pine Rest Announcements

Carolyn King, M.D. Joins Pine Rest Child And Adolescent Program

Carolyn King, M.D. has joined Pine Rest in the Child and Adolescent program as a psychiatrist.

Carolyn King, M.D., received a medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. Dr. King was a resident of general psychiatry and a fellow of child psychiatry at the University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor, MI.

Prior to joining Pine Rest, King was in private practice as an adult and child psychiatrist in Grosse Pointe Farms and Ann Arbor. King served as a consulting psychiatrist to Community Care Services Community Mental Health (CMH), The Children’s Center CMH in Wayne County, and the Institute for Psychiatry and Medicine in Washtenaw County. She was the co-host of a morning talk show, the “Monthly Mental Health Hour” on WJLB – FM 98. She will continue her committee involvement nationally with The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), producing “Facts for Families” information sheets available online.

Carolyn Avery, Mpa, Named Clinical And Operations Director For Pine Rest

Carolyn Avery, MPA, CAC, has been named clinical and operations director of Pine Rest Christian Addiction Services. In this position, she will supervise the women’s and children’s program, Freedom House, sub-acute detoxification, and the addiction services admission department.

Avery brings over 10 years of addictions, nursing, residential and supervisory experience to her position. She received a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University.

Prior to accepting this position at Pine Rest, Avery served as program director at Hope Network Behavioral Service’s Westlake campus. Past positions include program director at Hope Network’s River Valley/Kent Crisis campus, and director of admissions at Longford CareUnit.

June 9, 16, 23
Secrets for Successful Marriage
Pre-marital workshop taught by experienced marriage professionals for couples who want to grow their relationship in preparation for marriage. Because it is skill-based, it is a valuable addition to traditional pastoral or professional premarital counseling. 9 a.m. to noon. Cost: $95/couple. Call 616/455-5279 for more information.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

June 11, 2007
2007 Harvey Rozema Golf Classic
The Pine Rest Foundation presents the 2007 Harvey Rozema Golf Classic. A four-person scramble held at Blythefield Country Club, 5801 Northland Drive, NE, Grand Rapids. Choice of 7:45 a.m. or 1 p.m. tee-off. Cost: $210/person. Contests and events include hole-in-one, fifty/fifty, team challenge, closet to the pin, longest drive, and accurate drive. Registration is required. Call 616/281-6390 for more information or to register.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

June 13, 2007
"Together We Can" Community Education Series
"Help Children Develop Resiliency Skills," facilitated by René Beyette, MA, LPC. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pine Rest Traverse City Clinic, 1050 Silver Drive, Traverse City. Event is free and open to the public. Space is limited so pre-registration is recommended. To register, call Pine Rest Traverse City Clinic at 231/947-2255, ext. 0.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

June 7, 14, 21, 28
Eating Disorders Educational Support Group
Ongoing free, confidential group geared for persons with diagnosed eating disorders who are also receiving treatment from a health professional. 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Pine Rest Northeast Clinic, 1700 East Beltline, NE, Suite 240. Cost: Free. Facilitated by Michelle Muenzenmeyer, MA, LLP. An assessment or referral is required prior to joining the group. To schedule an assessment or for more information, call 616/364-1500.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

June 11
Pine Rest Family Connections Support Group
Monthly group for families who have a member with a diagnosed mental illness. Helps spouses, parents, siblings, and other caregivers more effectively deal with stress created by symptoms and behaviors. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Pine Rest's Southwest Clinic, 4211 Parkway Place, Suite 100, Grandville. Cost: Free. Facilitated by Jim Vander May, LMSW. Call 616/222-3700, ext. 4 for more information.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

June 6, 2007
Taking Care: Ethical Challenges in the Care of Patents with Dementia
Featuring Leonard M. Fleck, Ph.D., from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Pinnacle Center, 3330 Highland Drive, Hudsonville, MI 49426. The lecture is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, call (616) 455-6500.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

June 5, 12, 19, 26
Anger Management Classes for Teens
Led by Ryan LaRue, MSW, LMSW, ACSW, outpatient therapist at Pine Rest Campus Clinic. 4:15 -5:30 p.m. in the Van Andel Center on Pine Rest's main campus, 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids. Open to male and female teens ages 12-17. Cost: $75/person. Call 616/222-4584 for more information or to register.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

July 10, 17, 24, 31
Anger Management Classes for Teens
Led by Ryan LaRue, MSW, LMSW, ACSW, outpatient therapist at Pine Rest Campus Clinic. 4:15 -5:30 p.m. in the Van Andel Center on Pine Rest's main campus, 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids. Open to male and female teens ages 12-17. Cost: $75/person. Those interested in these classes do not have to be patients of Pine Rest. Space may be limited and early registration is recommended. For more information and to register, call 616/222-4584 or email ryan.larue@pinerest.org.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

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Disclaimer

Copyright © 2007, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. All rights reserved. The contents of Mental Health News & Information are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.