Naomi Breslau, one of the first researchers to show that experiences other than those during natural disasters and combat can cause post-traumatic stress disorder, died October 13 from complications of uterine cancer, The New York Times reports. Breslau, an emeritus professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Michigan State University, conducted research that showed events such as rape, assault, or the sudden death of a loved one can cause PTSD. Although the long-lasting effects of these traumas may seem self-evident now, that was not always the case.
“She was the first to show that traumas involving interpersonal violence lead to higher rates of PTSD than other traumas,” Ronald Kessler, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School, tells the Times.
Breslau also examined the relationships among different psychiatric disorders. She found that migraine headaches are related to several conditions, including clinical depression and panic disorders. She suggested that while ...
