Premium
Using biological markers to inform a clinically meaningful treatment response
Author(s) -
Yehuda Rachel,
Bierer Linda M.,
Pratchett Laura C.,
Pelcovitz Michelle
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05698.x
Subject(s) - interim , psychological resilience , posttraumatic stress , fight or flight response , population , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , psychiatry , psychotherapist , biology , biochemistry , environmental health , gene , archaeology , history
Combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) demonstrate less robust improvement following treatments than do civilians with PTSD. This paper discusses a theoretical model for evaluating treatment response based on the extent of change in biological markers of symptom severity or resilience between treatment initiation and termination. Such analysis permits a determination of biological change associated with the liberal criteria commonly used to determine treatment response in combat PTSD, and a comparison of this to the biological change associated with clinical response determined according to the conservative definition more appropriate to civilian PTSD. Interim data supporting the utility of this approach is presented based on preliminary analyses from our work in progress. We propose that future studies consider the unique consequences of combat trauma and develop treatments that incorporate the complex nature of the exposure and response characteristic of a veteran population.