Womack Army Medical Center is participating in a research study as part of an effort to better treat post traumatic stress disorder.
The study, led by RTI International and funded by the Department of Defense, will explore whether numbing a set of nerves and nerve cells, called the stellate ganglion, at the base of the right side of the neck helps to reduce the symptoms of PTSD.
Physicians at WAMC have been successfully performing stellate ganglion block on patients experiencing PTSD for the past few years. The procedure involves injecting an anesthetic in the nerve tissues. These nerve tissues are a relay station for the "fight or flight" response.
The three-year study will help formalize and validate the results for the procedure's effectiveness at treating PTSD symptoms.
"We need to ensure we're providing the best possible care for our service members," said Kristine L. Rae Olmsted, a research epidemiologist at RTI and co-principal investigator of the project. "This study will help determine whether stellate ganglion block can be part of such care for those dealing with post traumatic stress disorder."
Participation in the study is voluntary and a large number of the patients will be from WAMC.
Interested active-duty service members looking for more information should contact Carol Sheff, research coordinator for the study, at (919) 407-1093 or csheff@sgb.rti.org.
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