Recent News

"Gender Differences in the Association of Military Sexual Trauma with Suicide Risk"

A recent study finds that there is a significant association between military sexual assault in males and increased risk of psychiatric problems, such as depression, PTSD, impulsivity, and substance use. More alarming is the increased incidence of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts by these men. Many men do not report sexual assault because of the military culture that instills dangerous levels of machismo and fosters fear of looking weak. Many sexually-assaulted males feel shame and self-hatred and fear being ridiculed and ostracized by the very people who are supposed to support them in both combat and noncombat situations. It is important that males who are sexually assaulted show that they are not victims by reporting and prosecuting their perpetrators. This will send the message that this apparently insidious crime will not be tolerated and will help the assaulted male limit mental health problems and potentially prevent their suicide. Portions of this study are available here. The full version with references can be found at: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/08/military-sexual-trauma.pdf Read more.

 

"MPF Receives $15,000 Donation"

This evening (August 27, 2015), Deacons Paul and Bette Steger informed us that as part of its mission to fund local nonprofits, the North Congregational Church in Fall River MA has donated $15,000 to MPF. This money will help us fulfill our mission to educate active-duty and Veteran Service members about suicide prevention and other mental health issues. We thank them very much for their generosity as they have provided us some much needed resources to help the men and women who fight for and protect the freedoms we enjoy everyday.  Read more.

"Study: Wider variety of therapies could help vets, troops with PTSD"

An article titled “Study: Wider variety of therapies could help vets, troops with PTSD” by Steven Beardsley published in Stars and Stripes August 4, 2015 (http://www.stripes.com/news/study-wider-variety-of-therapies-could-help-vets-troops-with-ptsd-1.361323) examines alternative therapies available for Service members with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The therapies described include: Cognitive–Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET),  Present-Centered Therapy (PCT), and Mindfulness Therapy (MT). In short the article states that coping skill-based therapies achieve results similar to therapies that involve confronting traumatic memories. Although, CPT achieved slightly better short-term results, all therapies showed similar long-term improvements. This suggests that Service members with PTSD find and use a therapy that bests works for them, so they continue treatment long-term in order to achieve their best state of mental health wellness. Read more.

"Treating Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mood Disorders"

An article titled, “Treating Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mood Disorders” by Dr. Stephen M. Strakowski (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/849178?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=192771AZ#vp_1) describes the treatment patients should receive with co-occurring mood disorders, (e.g., major depressive disorder {MDD}) and substance use. It emphasizes the need to assess for the presence of one disorder when a patient presents with the other. For example, if a patient presents with MDD, medical personnel are compelled to assess for the presence of substance use, and vice versa. It describes the absolute necessity that both conditions be treated at the same time and with as few medications as possible, ideally less than three. Additionally, changes to the treatment plan when needed should be as few as possible and occur in one treatment arm at a time, which emphasizes the need for consistent and continual monitoring of the patients conditions, treatment plan, and response to treatment. It advocates for the use of standard-based components of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that work for each disorder to be used as a combination treatment. MPF posted this article to help active-duty and Veteran Service members understand how they should be diagnosed, treated, and monitored long-term for mood disorders and substance use, so they can get better. And you can! Read more.

"Verbal "Updating" Therapy Reduces PTSD"

Verbal “updating” therapy is used for chronic PTSD suffers. It works by stopping a person with PTSD from combining memories that if left unchecked would in effect worsen his or her PTSD, and thus, is protective. However, researchers are showing that this therapy is useful for prevention of PTSD if it is used within a six hour window after a traumatic event called the “consolidation window.”  Read more.

"Male depression: Understanding the issues"

Mayo Clinic is a worldwide nonprofit leader in medical care, research, and education for people from all walks of life. As such, you can consider Mayo Clinic a credible and reliable resource for learning about and understanding your medical conditions. Mayo Clinic published an article called, "Male depression: Understandng the issues" that describes how the signs and symptoms of male depression can differ from female depression.  Since the military population is disproportionately male (per the DoD, the total military force is 84% male), MPF believes this information is important to pass along. Read more.

"Effectiveness of Prazosin for PTSD Patients"

The drug prazosin* (Minipress and Minipress XL) has been around for years. It is a drug used for lowering blood pressure. However, ongoing studies for over a decade have shown that it effectively relieves PTSD-related nightmares. Although, this news is not considered “latest news,” enough Service members and their Families have not heard about prazosin, so providing information about this drug is necessary. Prazosin is an alpha-blocker that blocks alpha receptors in the brain and smooth muscle, which relaxes blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Read more.

"Mental Health First Aid Program Available for Vets"

Written by Deborah Brauser, this article explores the newest mental health first aid program available for Veterans. Read more.

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