A recent study shows for the first time that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be objectively diagnosed using magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive measurement of magnetic fields in the brain. Researchers at the University of Minnesota and Minne
apolis VA Medical Center published a study this month in the Journal of Neural Engineering identifying a biological marker in the brains of those exhibiting symptoms of PTSD. Conventional brain scans such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI are unable to detect PTSD.
According to one of the rearchers, Dr. Apostolos Georgopoulos,
These findings document robust differences in brain function between the PTSD and control groups that can be used for differential diagnosis and which possess the potential for assessing and monitoring disease progression and effects of therapy.
In addition to diagnosing those with PTSD, the researchers also were able to judge the severity of the patient’s suffering.
Attorneys representing accident victims suffering from PTSD may be able to use these imaging techniques to support their clients’ claims for pain and suffering against those responsible for causing their accidents.