Research carried out at the University of Haifa suggests that cannabis (marujana) could help tackle the problem of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 10 - 30% of people who suffer traumatic events go on to develop PTSD and can suffer from months to years with the condition. The study published in the Journal of Neuroscience used a rat model for the research as their responses to stress are similar to humans.
The combination of adverse events in childhood and traumatic experiences in adulthood raises the chances of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) according to a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry journal. Furthermore the risk increases if there is a genetic mutation present. The American study was conducted on 1,252 people between the ages of 17 and 79.
A leading charity, the British Heart Foundation, has responded to a study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology which investigated the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients who had suffered heart attacks. The charity's spokesmen said it was vital that rehabilitation programmes were better funded to ensure both mental and physical recovery could be achieved.
The outgoing chief executive of the charity Combat Stress, Commodore Toby Elliott, has ctiticised the care given to veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq who are suffering mental health problems, particularly post traumatic stress disorder. The charity which treats veterans with psychological problems has 300 former personnel under its care at the present time. Commodore Elliot stated that the NHS provides care for less than half the 9000 patients registered with the charity and that the six pilot NHS schemes were inadequate.
