Fast morphine treatment may prevent PTSD

[Warpy]

Quickly giving morphine to wounded troops cuts in half the chance they will develop post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a provocative study that suggests a new strategy for preventing the psychological fallout of war.

Researchers at the U.S. Naval Health Research Center led the study of about 700 troops injured in Iraq from 2004 through 2006.

“It was surprising how strong the effect of the morphine was,” said study leader Troy Lisa Holbrook, an epidemiologist at the naval center. The findings were published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
------
It was unclear whether it was the fast pain treatment or something specific to morphine that made the difference.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34848093/ns/health-mental_health/

Morphine has an incredibly powerful anti anxiety component, one of the reasons it's the gold standard for pain management. I have a feeling that is what they're looking for.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Yes, it's the anti-anxiety factor.

Xanax has also been used effectively in that fashion.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

2. Interesting.

I have had a few friends develop PTSD after calls none of them described anxiety as a factor. In over 20 years I've only lost one nights sleep after a call, so I really can't relate. I'm glad they are looking for answers.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[steven johnson]

4. The locus coeruleus is probably the site of action of the morphine

The locus coeruleus neurons are probably the origin of the first or second “leg” of what has been recently termed the "PTSD candidate circuit." An amygdala-locus coeruleus-anterior cingulate circuit appears to be the source of the chronic noradrenergic activation documented in PTSD patients.

The locus coeruleus has many opioid receptors which could dampen the PTSD. In PTSD, the normal checks and balances on amygdala activation have been impaired. There is evidence in a lower locus coeruleus cell count in autopsies of soldiers with PTSD.

The locus coeruleus also has alpha2 adrenergic receptors which would explain the efficacy of prazocin for the treatment of PTSD and since the LC releases norepinephrine during stress, the beta blockade of propranolol could blunt the afferent limb of this circuit.

Morphine inhibits the locus coeruleus where the main cell bodies responsible for the production of norepinephrine the the brain reside.


http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/Articles/111.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9989344

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_coeruleus

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/pharmacological-treatment-acute-stress.asp