Reichbach Center Spreads Hope for National PTSD Awareness Day, June 27
After a life-threatening event, developing post-traumatic stress disorder can keep that threat alive, so Reichbach Center is spreading the word that June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day. Reichbach Center delivers care for PTSD patients from across the country daily, and its experts know the importance of screening for PTSD as well as effective treatment for those who struggle despite traditional therapies. Patients seeking treatment for mental health needs are encouraged to call (941) 213-4444 to learn about their options or to be seen in Sarasota at 2415 University Parkway, Building 3, Suite 215. Veterans as well as civilians who are at risk for PTSD should get screened by their care provider or visit www.ptsd.va.gov/screen to self-screen today.
About 12 million adults in the U.S. have PTSD during a given year according to the National Center for PTSD. Veterans remain a high at-risk group for PTSD, and in light of the global pandemic, many more health care workers and caregivers may be at risk as well. Once screened and later diagnosed, those with PTSD can seek out support and treatment through Medicare/Medicaid, health insurance and Veterans Affairs as well as Reichbach Center. For those who struggle to get adequate relief with typical treatment avenues, Reichbach Center offers an innovative solution: ketamine infusion therapy.
“Some studies suggest PTSD may stem from a lack of synaptic connectivity,” said Reichbach Center President and Founder Dr. Steven Reichbach. “Ketamine therapy works by enhancing synaptic connectivity in brain circuitry, which may be a source of relief from PTSD symptoms.”
Ketamine infusion offers effective treatment for PTSD for three reasons:
- Ketamine resets brain circuitry: Glutamate regulates large regions of the nervous systems and is the most prominent neurotransmitter in the brain. When glutamate receptors are over-activated, as in cases of major depressive disorder and PTSD, a person may experience depression and anxiety. Ketamine works by blocking glutamine receptors in the brain.
- Ketamine may be able to reverse the effects of stress: It is possible that the use of ketamine may enhance synaptic connectivity in brain circuits, ultimately relieving, and even reversing, the effects of stress.
- Ketamine works quickly and may work when other treatments have failed: Ketamine may work especially well among patients who are resistant to other forms of treatment like antidepressants and cognitive therapy. Ketamine is also gaining popularity in treating major depressive disorder that has previously been treatment-resistant.
“Accompanied by support from mental health providers, ketamine infusion therapy has shown to offer exceptional outcomes to patients coping with trauma,” added Dr. Reichbach. “At Reichbach Center, we are proud to provide hope through a new pathway for our patient-guests to experience relief from PTSD symptoms and life transformation.”
Dr. Reichbach is a graduate of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University. He trained in internal medicine at Staten Island University Hospital and completed his anesthesiology residency at Stony Brook University while also receiving specialty training in pain management and pediatrics. Dr. Reichbach has been board-certified in anesthesiology since 1994, and he has worked with ketamine for more than 20 years. Before moving to Sarasota in 2015, he practiced as a partner with an anesthesiology group in New York for nearly two decades. Dr. Reichbach is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Medical Association and the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment at Reichbach Center, call (941) 213-4444.