HUGE: Israeli Scientists Make Incredible Breakthrough in Alleviating PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

By simply testing the saliva of war veterans, doctors may now be able to diagnose their conditions immediately

By Nosson Shulman: Licensed Tour Guide of VIP Israel Tours & Authentic Virtual Tours (click here to check out his free trailer videos)

During the 2014 Gaza War, Israeli soldier Yitzik Saidyan fought heroically in some of the conflict’s fiercest battles against Islamic terrorists. While selflessly doing his part to keep his country safe, this came at huge personal cost. Within the first three hours of combat, 7 of his close fellow soldiers were killed. With no time to address this trauma, he continued in the battlefield for several more weeks. When the war was over, life went back to normal for most Israelis, but not Yitzik. Due to this trauma, he was unable to maintain employment, moved from apartment to apartment, was prone to angry outbursts, and went for long periods of time without sleeping or eating. He tried to get officially recognized as disabled from the IDF (which would entitle him to compensation) but was only recognized as 25% disabled (according to a friend, he was treated as though he were trying to “milk” the system). Every time he applied for help he had to go through bureaucratic hoops, including having to relive his trauma each time he met with the review committee. In 2021 feeling alone and hopeless, he attempted suicide, publicly setting himself on fire. Thankfully, soldier Saidyan survived, and has since been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and now appears to be getting the help needed to help treat his physical and mental scars.

Unfortunately, in a country which has suffered much trauma in its short history, thousands of Israeli war veterans suffer from PTSD. It is estimated that one third of veterans suffering from this dangerous mental illness have not been diagnosed. Some may not be aware that they have it, or that their condition has a name (awareness of PTSD has grown but still has a long way to go). Even for those who are recognized as disabled and eligible for help, each session of therapy requires revisiting their painful pasts again, causing some to avoid getting needed help. However, Israeli scientists have recently discovered a potential revolutionary breakthrough that will allow the soldiers to get a speedy diagnosis (and therefore quicker path to treatment) without the need for a painfully drawn-out process!

Israeli scientists have discovered that they can simply use saliva samples to diagnose PTSD quickly and accurately. In a joint project conducted by Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities, saliva samples of 200 veterans of the first Lebanon War (in 1982) were collected. The samples with PTSD were found to have a certain bacteria in their saliva. According to Professor Ilana Gozes (the head of the study) the implications are huge, stating that, “Until now, diagnosis of PTSD has been based solely on psychological and psychiatric measures. Thanks to this study, it may be possible, in the future, to use objective molecular and biological characteristics to distinguish PSTD sufferers, taking into account environmental influences.” She added “We hope that this new discovery and the microbial signatures described in this study might promote easier diagnosis of post-traumatic veteran soldiers so they can receive appropriate treatment.”

Besides the easier diagnosis for suffers of this crippling mental illness, the researchers believe that their findings will assist in the development of microbiotic-related medications for treating PTSD symptoms.

Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here. To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.