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News exclusive: Blocking bad memories
A commonly used drug could have the power to extinguish the trauma associated with horrific memories, according to an exclusive news story in this week's edition of Nature.
US psychiatrists claim that beta-blockers, widely used treatments for high blood pressure and heart problems, can interfere with the way the brain stores memories. Administer these drugs at the right time, suggest the psychiatrists, and sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could snuff out the periods of panic that blight their lives.
The idea is timely, yet controversial. Data on previous terrorist attacks suggest that the recent bombings in London and Egypt will cause a spike in PTSD rates. Current treatments, such as counselling, have limited success, so alternatives are welcome. But some mental health experts say the treatment could be abused, perhaps by military commanders who want soldiers to become desensitized to terrible acts.
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