Hyper-Arousal in Individuals with PTSD with Eric Elbogen, PhD

Working Effectively with Hyper-Arousal Symptoms in Individuals with PTSD

April 15, 2013

PTSD is a complex anxiety disorder that can occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed trauma, with symptoms that include re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, dreams, or recurring thoughts; avoidance of reminders of their trauma, which can result in social and emotional withdrawal, despondency, and memory loss; and hyperarousal symptoms such as feeling “on edge,” becoming easily startled, suffering from insomnia, and experiencing angry outbursts. In this workshop, Eric Elbogen will share his research on combat veterans, which reveals processes linking experiences of anger and aggressiveness in combat veterans to PTSD hyperarousal symptoms. Participants will learn about assessing for risks as well as treatment strategies that are effective in this subgroup of PTSD sufferers.

Bio: Eric Elbogen, PhD, is an associate professor in the UNC Department of Psychiatry, with a background in both law and clinical psychology. His research and clinical work focus on violence risk assessment and veterans mental health. He is currently Principal Investigator on research projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, Department of Defense, and Department of Education studying the effects of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and psychiatric disability on post-deployment adjustment among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. His clinical work includes psychological assessments at Central Regional Hospital and the UNC Forensic Psychiatry Program and Clinic.

Slides| printable Handouts | Article on anger | Article on violence 

THREE-PART VIDEO: