While sleep disturbance has long been considered a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, recent studies show it may also contribute to the condition. Brain State Technologies presented data this week suggesting a wearable device for sleep optimization could decrease the risk of PTSD.
Brain State Technologies worked with researchers from the Wake Forest School of Medicine to analyze data from a study of military service members deployed to Iraq, in which the authors found that the risk for PTSD from insomnia was almost as strong as the risk from exposure to combat, according to a statement.
The collaborators factored estimates for the risk of PTSD from insomnia and estimates for how much a sleep-enhancing wearable might reduce insomnia into their calculations for estimates for reductions in new cases of PTSD.
Sleep disturbance also happens to be one of the more challenging PTSD symptoms to treat, with counseling and medication being largely ineffective, according to the statement. A wearable device to improve sleep quality, such as Brain State’s BRAINtellect 2, could fulfill this unmet need.
According to the company, the device reads brain rhythms via sensors placed on the scalp. These brainwaves are then “translated” into sounds of varying pitch and timing, which are played to the user through earbuds, causing the brain to bring itself into a relaxed state and reorganize its rhythms.
“We are very excited about presenting this analysis to military health researchers, because prevention efforts tend to get too little attention. We think that focus on sleep quality could reduce PTSD not only in the military, but also in police, medical first-responders, and others who have high exposure to trauma," said Brain State CEO Lee Gerdes in the statement.
- here's the statement
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