Remediation of PTSD in a Combat Veteran: A Case Study

Abstract

The posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) condition is a systemic neuroinflammatory state that emanates from a failure to recover from traumatic occurrence(s). Major complications associated with PTSD include problems with impulse control and issues related to verbal and physical outbursts of anger and rage. The Veteran’s Administration (VA) projects a post–9/11 veteran population of around 3.5 million by 2019. Emotional problems are prevalent among combat service members and veterans with about half of the group suffering from various symptoms of PTSD. Three in four among them report they are reliving traumas in the form of flashbacks and nightmares. Current mental health treatments have not fully remediated the negative impact that results from PTSD. We present a case study of a novel and transformative treatment approach called Reconsolidation Enhancement by Stimulation of Emotional Triggers (RESET) Therapy. The intervention uses binaural sound to unlock the memory reconsolidation process, thereby releasing the emotional component of experienced trauma. RESET Therapy offers a compelling therapeutic adjunct to the practicing biofeedback/neurofeedback clinician, who is under constant pressure to deliver interventions that are rapid, tolerable, and cost-effective. Additionally, the treatment spares the therapist from repeated exposures to the raw limbic activity of traumatized patients, thereby minimizing the potential for vicarious traumatization.