Check out the interview with University of Zurich's Professor
In order to discuss the escalating effects of urban violence, PUCRS is promoting the International Congress of Urban Violence and Trauma in Developing Countries – Basic Research, Clinical Interventions and Public Health, on Jun 30 and Jul 1, at the theater of building 40. The event is being offered in partnership with the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) and several international guests have been invited, such as Ulrich Schnyder, from Switzerland; Maureen Alwood and Marcelo Korc, from the USA; Daniel Mosca, from Argentina and Carolina Salgado, from Chile.
Individuals who go through traumatic experiences may develop a series of reactions which may turn into mental disorders over time. One such disorder is the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “Although it is common, we know too little about it. Most patients are not aware they suffer from it and consequently, they cannot relate the traumatic experience to their reactions even many years after the event occurred”, says the Coordinator of the Graduate programs and professor of the Graduate Program in Psychology , Christian Haag Kristensen.
For PTSD patients, the first treatment recommended is psychotherapy. “Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment. Depending on how well patients respond to it, we can work together with pharmacotherapy”, says Kristensen. In his view, the as we know more about human genetics, we will be able to design personalized treatments.
Schnyder, who is a professor at University of Zurich and coordinator of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, of the Zurich University Hospital, talked about the most effective therapeutic interventions, perspectives and combined treatments.
What are the most effective therapeutic interventions for trauma-related disorders?
Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is the most effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When it comes to medication, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have shown good results. However, they are not as effective as TF-CBT approaches.
What are current and future perspectives for combined treatments (drugs that help in the extinction of traumatic memory and drugs and that help in the process of new learning in psychotherapy)?
A number of such drugs have been tested over the last 20 years: cortisol, beta blockers, d-cycloserine, oxytocin, and others. Combining psychoactive compounds with psychotherapy seems to be very useful. One of the problems about studies on these drugs is that the industry is much more focused on new medications that will bring about financial benefits.
Besides combined treatments, will the future be personalized treatments, which take into account the physiology and genetics of the person?
We are beginning to work on it. We will not have truly customized treatments in this regard in the near future. It goes without saying, however, that on an individual level, any good psychotherapist will adjust their therapeutic procedures according to the patient’s specific situation and individual needs.
