Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Memorial Day is when Americans take time to honor those who have died serving in our country's military. For thousands who survive the front lines, they often come home to face another battle: post traumatic stress disorder.
In a lab at the VA hospital, Dr. Shawn Youngstedt is demonstrating the newest treatment for veterans with post traumatic stress disorder called a light box, often associated with the treatment of depression.
"The instructions are to be doing something else while receiving the light exposure," said Dr. Youngstedt.
Patients in the study will sit in front of the white light for thirty minutes right after they wake up. So far, Youngstedt says he's seen it decrease anxiety, depression, and even improvements in memory.
"They're given a formal clinical assessment before and after the four weeks and we're finding improvements in all of these variables."
Dr. Youngstedt says pharmalogicial treatment for PTSD often has side effects so he and his staff are giving 70 Iraqi war veterans a light box, reviewing the results.
"There is a specific questionnaire that deals with PTSD sleep problems like nightmares, and we've seen an improvement in that."
Youngstedt says since he grew up in a miliary family, he admits he does have other motivations than just medical research.
"I come from a long line of military service, my father, my uncles, I feel like this is one way I can help returning veterans."
Depending on the results, Dr. Youngstedt plans on eventually testing war veterans from vietnam and operation desert storm.
If you are interested in partisipating in the study you can contact Dr. Youngstedt at the VA hospital at 803-647-5646. They will ask you some preliminary questions over the phone then send you a packet of information about the PTSD study.