Neurofeedback Prevention For Early Stress Related Adversity

Exposure to life threatening, traumatic and stress inducing events in general is an inevitable part of military combat service . Among individuals exposed to a traumatic event, approximately 85-90 % will develop a stress response from which they will recover without need for any medical intervention whatsoever. However, roughly 10-15 % will continue to suffer from post-traumatic symptoms along with depression or anxiety disorders1, . The prominent symptoms of post - traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), consists of reliving the event via invasive and painful memories that include: images, thoughts or feelings, night terrors, and extreme emotional distress that arise when exposure to external or internal cues similar to or symbolizing aspects of the traumatic event. Following this distress, behavioral avoidance of situations that trigger unpleasant memories may develop. Such mental stress may lead to avoidance of social situations and hinder normal daily functioning in a variety of contexts2. The question arises as to what distinguishes between those who are exposed to a traumatic event and recover spontaneously and those who fail to resume daily life and develop PTSD. Attempts to find personality and environmental risk factors for the development of PTSD have yet to yield any unequivocal conclusions. This has lead the scientific community to look for neuro-physical risk factors as well . Furthermore, evidence that early diagnosis and treatment of the disorder helps reduce the severity of post-trauma symptoms -stresses the need for the accurate localization of neurological risk factors and new immediate and/or preventative interventions. The aim of the present project is to develop a brain oriented training method for early preventive interventions of PTSD.