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Understanding Mental Health Needs and Gathering Feedback on Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Potential PTSD Treatment among 9/11 Responders Living with PTSD Symptoms 20 Years Later: A Qualitative Approach

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  • Rebecca M. Schwartz

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, 175 Community Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, USA
    Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
    Center for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery, Northwell Health, 175 Community Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, USA
    Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Pooja Shaam

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, 175 Community Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, USA
    Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
    Center for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery, Northwell Health, 175 Community Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, USA)

  • Myia S. Williams

    (Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
    Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
    Department of Medicine, Northwell Health, 600 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA)

  • Molly McCann-Pineo

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, 175 Community Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, USA
    Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
    Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Laura Ryniker

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, 175 Community Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, USA
    Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
    Center for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery, Northwell Health, 175 Community Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, USA)

  • Shubham Debnath

    (Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA)

  • Theodoros P. Zanos

    (Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
    Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA
    Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA)

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains one of the most prevalent diagnoses of World Trade Center (WTC) 9/11 responders. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a potential treatment for PTSD, as it can downregulate activity in the brain, which is known to be related to stress responses and hyperarousal. To understand barriers and facilitators to engagement in mental health care and the feasibility and acceptability of using the taVNS device as a treatment for PTSD symptoms, a focus group was conducted among patients from the Queens WTC Health Program who had elevated symptoms of PTSD. The focus group discussion was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Three themes and subthemes emerged: (1) the continued prevalence of mental health difficulties and systematic challenges to accessing care; (2) positive reception toward the taVNS device as a potential treatment option, including a discussion of how to increase usability; and (3) feedback on increasing the feasibility and acceptance of the research methodology associated with testing the device in a pilot clinical trial. The findings highlight the need for additional treatment options to reduce PTSD symptoms in this population and provide key formative phase input for the pilot clinical trial of taVNS.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca M. Schwartz & Pooja Shaam & Myia S. Williams & Molly McCann-Pineo & Laura Ryniker & Shubham Debnath & Theodoros P. Zanos, 2022. "Understanding Mental Health Needs and Gathering Feedback on Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Potential PTSD Treatment among 9/11 Responders Living with PTSD Symptoms 20 Years Late," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4847-:d:795338
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mayer Bellehsen & Jacqueline Moline & Rehana Rasul & Kristin Bevilacqua & Samantha Schneider & Jason Kornrich & Rebecca M. Schwartz, 2019. "A Quality Improvement Assessment of the Delivery of Mental Health Services among WTC Responders Treated in the Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Jieun E Kim & Stephen R Dager & Hyeonseok S Jeong & Jiyoung Ma & Shinwon Park & Jungyoon Kim & Yera Choi & Suji L Lee & Ilhyang Kang & Eunji Ha & Han Byul Cho & Sunho Lee & Eui-Jung Kim & Sujung Yoon , 2018. "Firefighters, posttraumatic stress disorder, and barriers to treatment: Results from a nationwide total population survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, January.
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