By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on January 21, 2010
Researchers believe they have made a landmark discovery toward an objective diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Medical Center scientists studied a group of 74 United States veterans. They were able to objectively diagnose PTSD using magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive measurement of magnetic fields in the brain.
The outcome is meaningful because conventional brain scans such as an X-ray, CT, or MRI have been unsuccessful in identifying PTSD.
The ability to objectively diagnose PTSD is the first step towards helping those afflicted with this severe anxiety disorder.
PTSD often stems from war, but also can be a result of exposure to any psychologically traumatic event. The disorder can manifest itself in flashbacks, recurring nightmares, anger, or hypervigilance…
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