HBOT For Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/ Depression

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault. Stroke happens when blood is stopped from flowing to a particular part of the brain. This lack of oxygen to the brain causes affected brain cells to die which can cause lasting damage. Blood can stop flowing to the brain for two reasons. The first is a blood clot. When a blood clot lodges in a vessel that carries blood to the brain it stops the flow and causes a stroke. This type of stroke is called an Ischemic Stroke. Another type of stroke is called the Haemorrhagic Stroke. A Haemorrhagic Stroke is the result of a weak vessel in the brain that bursts and causes blood to leak into the brain. Symptoms of a stroke vary depending on what part of the brain is affected and what type of stroke the person has experienced.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is being used to improve the quality of life for stroke victims. HBOT can help with the residual effects of stroke even years after the event. There are a wide range of benefits, but patients generally see partial or complete reversal of the neurological deficit. The most important factor in HBOT treatment of stroke has been the proper dosing of HBOT, based on the type of stroke, and time of intervention. While the best results are derived from early application of HBOT, most patients don’t get HBOT until years after their stroke. Even in these chronic cases, which comprise the bulk of stroke patients, patients can still experience improvement in their motor, sensory, cognitive, gait, balance, and other symptoms. One of the most comprehensive reviews of HBOT in stroke is presented by Dr. Jain in the Textbook of Hyperbaric Medicine. The net result of all studies and the treatment of over 2000 stroke patients is a beneficial effect of HBOT on all phases of stroke. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has demonstrated significant pre-clinical effectiveness for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and limited potential in treating chronic neurological deficits. Reported benefits include reductions in oxidative stress, inflammation, neural apoptosis, and improved physiological metrics such as edema and oxygen perfusion, all of which contribute to improved functional recovery.