Dr George John - Consultant Psychiatrist

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
This is a condition characterised by acute and very high levels of panic and anxiety as a result of a serious traumatic experience. For example rape, combat, abuse, witnessing a violent event or suffering a serious medical or psychological trauma.

In this condition even unrelated triggers can cause flashbacks and the memory of the traumatic event can be intrusive into one's mind and dysfunctional symptoms can persist for a long time.. Typical symptoms include: episodes of repeated reliving of the trauma in intrusive memories ("flashbacks") dreams, occurring against the persisting background of a sense of "numbness" and emotional blunting detachment from other people unresponsiveness to surroundings anhedonia, and avoidance of activities and situations reminiscent of the trauma Commonly there is fear and avoidance of cues that remind the sufferer of the original trauma. Rarely there may be dramatic, acute bursts of fear, panic or aggression, triggered by stimuli arousing a sudden recollection and/or re-enactment of the trauma or of the original reaction to it. There is usually a state of autonomic hyper-arousal with hyper-vigilance, an enhanced startle reaction, and insomnia. Anxiety and depression are commonly associated with the above symptoms and signs and suicidal ideation is not infrequent. Excessive use of alcohol or drugs may be a complicating factor. The onset follows the trauma with a latency period, which may range from a few weeks to months (but rarely exceeds 6 months). The course is fluctuating but recovery can be expected in the majority of cases. In a small proportion of patients the condition may show a chronic course over many years and a transition to an enduring personality change. The preferred treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is through psychological methods. The two most prevalent methods are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR). Evidence suggests that at least 60% of patients respond to treatment and do not fulfil diagnostic criteria for PTSD at 1 year follow-up after termination of such treatment.

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Dr Jeremy Royds would like to offer his services in giving Lectures in a number of topics, including Addiction; Stress; Obesity; Suicide. If you have a different topic that you would like to have discussed, within the field of psychiatry, please let us know.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This is a condition characterised by acute and very high levels of panic and anxiety as a result of a serious traumatic experience. For example rape, combat, abuse, witnessing a violent event or suffering a serious medical or psychological trauma.