By mweadmin - January 2, 2025

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that sometimes develops after a person has witnessed or experienced a highly stressful or traumatizing event. People affected by PTSD experience life-interfering symptoms such as flashbacks or reoccurring nightmares of the event and increased levels of anxiety and hypervigilant states.

While many PTSD symptoms resolve either on their own or with early interventions, untreated or long-term PTSD can be highly debilitating and can significantly reduce overall quality of life. The good news is that PTSD is treatable with the proper care and support of a professional and qualified mental health team. At Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry, we offer compassionate and expert PTSD treatment like talk therapy, medication management services, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Jump to:

• Causes Of PTSD
• PTSD Symptoms
• PTSD Statistics And Impact
• PTSD Treatment Options
• Why Choose Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry?

Causes Of PTSD

While many people associate PTSD with veterans and other individuals who have experienced active combat duty or wars, anyone who has experienced a dangerous or overwhelming event can have PTSD. Some common causes of PTSD include:

• Trauma exposure: Police officers, firefighters, and other first responders are especially vulnerable to developing PTSD symptoms as they routinely respond to violent crimes, accidents, sexual assaults, domestic abuse, and natural disasters. New York first responders and residents may still be suffering PTSD from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
• Combat exposure: Military personnel who experience active combat duty or civilians caught in a war zone.
• Childhood trauma: Children who experience neglect, abandonment, abuse, or extreme poverty can develop PTSD symptoms.
• Sudden loss: Experiencing a sudden death or loss of a significant relationship can provoke PTSD.

PTSD Symptoms

Some signs of PTSD include the following symptoms:

• Intrusive memories: Reexperiencing the traumatic event either through flashbacks, reoccurring nightmares, or intrusive and distressing thoughts.
• Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, or other triggers and reminders of the event that could bring back painful memories.
• Negative changes in thinking and mood: Ongoing negative feelings such as guilt, shame, and emotional numbness.
• Changes in physical and emotional reactions: Feelings of hypervigilance even when in a safe environment, irritability, and sleep issues.

While not everyone who experiences a dangerous or shocking event will develop PTSD, if someone is showing signs of PTSD, it is crucial to seek out care.

PTSD Statistics and Impact

• Every year, 3.5% of the population is estimated to experience PTSD.
• The overall lifetime risk of PTSD is 6.8%.
• Specific demographics face higher risks:
  • Women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD symptoms.
  • Military personnel have a lifetime risk of 9.4%.

PTSD is often diagnosed alongside other disorders, a phenomenon known as comorbidity, such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse. Suicidal ideation and tendencies are also common (1).

PTSD Treatment Options

The first line of treatment for PTSD is either medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. If patients do not see significant improvements in their conditions, they might consider TMS, which has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD symptoms.

Medication Management

Medication can help manage the chemical imbalances in the brain that contribute to PTSD. The most common medications prescribed are:

• Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline and paroxetine are commonly prescribed to reduce symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
• Anti-anxiety medications: PTSD patients are often stuck in a “flight or fight” response and experience bouts of intense anxiety. The use of these medications helps reduce hypervigilance states and lower anxious feelings.

Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry offers medication management services to help patients find the right medication and dosage. New Yorkers have busy schedules, so we provide flexible telehealth appointments.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapies are often central to PTSD treatment, offering patients strategies to process trauma and build resilience. Two of the most effective therapies for PTSD are:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with trauma.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Uses guided eye movements to help patients reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-cleared non-invasive brain stimulation therapy that directly targets the areas of the brain affected by PTSD. Over several weeks of 20-60 minute sessions, patients wear a type of helmet on their scalp through which electromagnetic pulses are sent into the brain, helping to create new neural pathways.

A non-pharmaceutical intervention, TMS is a great option for those who do not respond to or do not wish to take medication. It is well tolerated, with most patients experiencing little to no side effects. It can also be used conjunctly with other therapeutic interventions for increased results.

Recent preliminary studies state that TMS consistently reduces PTSD symptoms as well as comorbidity conditions like depression and/or anxiety (2). While more research is needed to determine the lasting effects of TMS and optimize its application for PTSD, TMS is safe and effective for treating PTSD (3).

If you want to learn more about how TMS can help you or a loved one manage PTSD symptoms, reach out today and learn more on our website.

• Telehealth Consultations

Remote access to therapy for ongoing support makes it convenient for New Yorkers with busy schedules or long commutes to receive the proper care and attention they need and deserve. Talk to a caring professional from the comfort of your own home or office at a convenient time.

Schedule your appointment today with Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry.

Why Choose Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry?

Our team at Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry are experts in treating PTSD, offering personalized treatment and compassionate care. Whether you’re looking for help with medication management, a telehealth appointment, or exploring TMS for PTSD symptoms, we are here to support your or a loved one’s recovery.

If you or a loved one are experiencing PTSD symptoms and are located in the New York area, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation today via our website or by calling (212) 731-2033.

PTSD can be a debilitating and isolating condition, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right support and interventions from our team of caring professionals, recovery is more than possible.

Learn more about PTSD:

• Why Do So Many People With PTSD Have Depression?
• PTSD In Veterans
• Does TMS Work For PTSD?

Sources:

1. Sareen J. Posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: impact, comorbidity, risk factors, and treatment. Can J Psychiatry. 2014;59(9):460-467. Link. Accessed November 15, 2024.
2. Saccenti D, Lodi L, Moro AS, et al. Novel Approaches for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Interventions and Insights from Clinical Trials. Brain Sci. 2024;14(3):210. Link. Accessed October 15, 2024.
3. Petrosino NJ, Cosmo C, Berlow YA, Zandvakili A, van ’t Wout-Frank M, Philip NS. Transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2021;11. Link. Accessed November 14, 2024.

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