Join us on Thursday, October 2, in RBC Lecture Theatre (CE258) from 6:30-8:30pm for a talk by J.F. Pagel, MS/MD.
About the Talk: The Nightmare of PTSD
A majority of individuals will experience major trauma in their lifetime. A significant percentage going on to meet diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Debate persists as to whether PTSD is a disorder of human stress response or a psychodynamic response to extreme trauma, and effective treatments have been developed based on both perspectives. The experience of PTSD can be disabling, complex, recurrent, and societal with PTSD becoming a lifespan diagnosis associated with significant morbidity and mortality based on associations with substance abuse, homelessness, and suicide. Nightmares and disordered sleep are the most commonly experienced symptoms of PTSD. While classic psychoanalytic-based talk therapy has shown limited effectiveness, excellent treatment alternatives exist, including prolonged exposure (PE), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), and C-PAP therapy in subjects proven to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Concomitant therapies, particularly the treatment of substance abuse and approaches emphasizing creativity, have been demonstrated to help individuals with persistent symptoms of PTSD to develop rewarding and productive lives.
About the Speaker: J.F. Pagel, MS/MD
James F. Pagel, MD, is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, an Adjunct Professor with the Psychology Department at CBU and a recognized expert in PTSD, particularly its relationship with sleep disorders and nightmares. His bibliography includes several influential publications and books that contribute valuable insights into the understanding and treatment of PTSD.