From: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/543547/?sc=rsmn

AAPB 2008 Fall Workshop — Blast Injuries: TBI, PTSD, and Pain


AAPB is pleased to announce the 2008 Fall Workshop — Blast Injuries: TBI, PTSD, and Pain. Join us November 7 - 8, 2008 in Washington, DC for an intensive 2-day workshop focusing on updated knowledge and skills to serve the OEF/OIF veterans suffering from blast injuries, and related conditions including TBI, PTSD and chronic pain.
Newswise — This workshop is intended to provide the participants with updated knowledge and skills to serve the OEF/OIF veterans suffering from blast injuries, and related conditions including TBI, PTSD and chronic pain. Specifically, topics will include: • a definition of blast trauma, its characteristics, epidemiology, neuro-anatomy and neuropathology. • mechanisms of explosive blast injury. • the co-morbidity of PTSD, pain, and other psychiatric and somatic symptoms. • neurobiology of PTSD and pain. • neuro-imaging of post-TBI depression. • medical impact and implications for rehabilitation (including involvement of family members). • recovery from PTSD and pain following traumatic brain injury. • a panel discussion on cognitive rehabilitation. • an overview of pharmacological interventions. • the psychophysiology of PTSD and implications for biofeedback. • the use of virtual reality in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of PTSD and TBI. • complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions. • special issues for female veterans (military sexual trauma and beyond).

Speakers will include a host of national and internationally known experts in the field of blast injury, PTSD, and pain:

Ibolja Cernak, MD, ME, PhD Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Ronald G. Riechers, MDCleveland VA Medical Center Lonnie A. Nelson, PhDDefense and Veteran's Brain Injury Center Carmen V. Russoniello, PhD, LRT, LPC, BCIACEast Carolina University Gabriel Tan, PhD, ABPPMichael E. DeBakery VA Medical Center Kathleen Kortte, PhDJohn Hopkins University School of Medicine Una McCann, MD John Hopkins University School of Medicine Vani Rao, MD John Hopkins University School of Medicine James Fauerbach, PhD John Hopkins University School of Medicine Michael Smith, PhD John Hopkins University School of Medicine
More information on additional speakers will be released when available. We look forward to sharing additional details on the wide array of experts speaking at the Fall Workshop.

All too often victims go silent. They fear their attacker, they fear the reaction from their peers, they fear going public, they fear, they fear, they fear....

Fear is one of the many reasons victims remain silent about traumatic events of the sexual nature. Still, those silent voices need support. That one day when they come out of their silence and give voice to their souls, they may seek an outlet for what was held inside. Many criticize the silence of victims exclaiming it is wrong. They shout that attackers must be processed through the justice system. And, while these are valid points, not every victim has the strength to speak up nor the support system to give them the encouragement to do so.

Be kind to those who are silent for you know not what has caused them to be so. Likewise, when they do speak, listen with empathy and be supportive, for it is the survivor within you who can embrace them and lead them down the path of resources and help that exist in this day and age.

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This group exists for the survivors who have come out and shared their experiences, but it also for those who have been silent and may remain so for many years to come. Know you are not alone. Know that there is help, when you choose to access it. Know you are a survivor too.