Update
Blog
Written by Dr. Bassam Dheyaa
Specialist Adult Psychiatrist
Emotional trauma can have lasting effects on an individual’s mental and physical health, especially when it leads to conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression. A Psychiatrist in Dubai often employs psychological methods as the first line of treatment, but the relationship between trauma and medications in psychiatric care involves both neurological and psychological aspects through pharmacological interventions.
First, let’s see how emotional trauma affects the brain:
Emotional trauma can lead to changes in brain structure and function, particularly in areas like the Amygdala, Hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. It can cause hyperactivity in the Amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions and fear, and lead to heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional dysregulation, which can also be due to impairments in the prefrontal cortex that make it difficult to process emotions or return to a calm state. This trauma can negatively affect memory with flashbacks or dissociative symptoms due to shrinkage or dysfunction in the hippocampus.
Given these neurological changes, medications often play a role in stabilizing brain functions, while therapy addresses the psychological aspects of trauma. As a psychiatrist in Dubai, which is a hub for people from various nationalities, it’s important to assess patients’ current condition, their pre-morbid personality, past psychiatric history, family history, social background, and medical conditions to make informed treatment decisions.
Treatment options may include Antidepressants like SSRIs or SNRIs. Benzodiazepines are used temporarily to manage symptoms like hypervigilance, anxiety, or insomnia. Long-term use is typically avoided due to risks of tolerance and dependence. Alpha or Beta blockers can help manage hyperarousal or palpitations, and other medications may be added depending on the individual’s case.
Of course, we must also recognize the importance of psychotherapy in trauma care. Therapy helps patients process and heal from their experiences. A psychiatrist Dubai practitioners offer a range of tailored therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Group Therapy, among others.
A psychiatrist in Dubai or psychologist in Dubai will determine the proper course of treatment, whether it includes medication, therapy, or a combination of both, and make ongoing adjustments based on the patient’s response.
In conclusion, emotional trauma impacts brain function, leading to various psychological symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, and memory disturbances. Effective treatment requires a holistic approach that combines medication with tailored psychotherapies to address both neurological and emotional healing.
In a diverse city like Dubai, where patients come from a range of backgrounds, personalized and adaptive treatment plans are key to promoting long-term recovery.