Press Release

News-Medical.net

PTSD study focuses on mental window of opportunity

By: News-Medical

Published: Tuesday, 27-Apr-2004


Haunting memories, thoughts, or images are found in Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a major mental health problem
affecting millions worldwide. A new clinical trials study by mental
imagery researcher Robert Roerich, M.D. seeks to explore the
mind’s ability to heal memory of stressful life experiences.

Roerich has coined the term senticon for mental imagery.From
the Latin “sentire”, meaning to feel and the Greek “icon”, a
symbolic representation, this word encompasses all sensory
perception, not just visual. PTSD is a whole body reaction that
may include sound, smell, touch, and taste besides visual
memory of the original trauma.

“What appears to record the original trauma is the presence of
strong emotion associated with a life threatening event,” Roerich
states.

“The mind captures emotion as a primary reaction to severe
stress. That is something no one has to think about beforehand,
we feel it. A senticon is produced as a result, which serves a
useful purpose in remembering what is threatening us, but can
by itself be painful over time if it persists in people who develop
PTSD.”

“PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.Many people
will not seek professional help because of the fear of being
perceived as weak or psychotic. Only 5% of people see a
psychiatrist out of fear of doing so, seeking instead to confide in
friends, loved ones, or their family doctor.”

Roerich’s clinical trials study seeks police officers and veterans
who are in therapy for PTSD. A new mental imagery treatment,
Senticon Therapy, is being compared to whatever therapy the
patient is receiving, with pre and post treatment testing to gauge
severity of PTSD.

“Clinical results using mental imagery treatment of PTSD have
been encouraging”, Roerich notes. The clinical trials study will see
how effective this new treatment really is in the stressful work
and lives of police and veterans.

Roerich’s pilot study showing mental imagery assessment of
mental status is published on the Roadmind University website.
European psychologists found this method has convergent
validity and offers a truer evaluation of mental health not affected
by the truthfulness of the subject tested to direct questioning.

“Senticon Therapy shows great promise in healing emotions. If
we can imagine the problem, we can find solutions.It is a golden
window of opportunity.”

More information is available at www.roadmind.com. The research
participation phone number is 740-283-4520.