Major illnesses are preceded by relatively minor antecedent ones, and in the majority of cases can be prevented with timely interventions. SaaS-driven predictive analytics is increasingly deployed to identify predictors before catastrophic — and costly — events like heart attacks strike.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) is illustrative of an illness that predictably persists in some victims of trauma who could benefit from medical intervention if their susceptibility was known in advance. Studies show that a minority of victims — 10% to 20% of those who experience an ordeal — are likely to experience resulting episodes of depression. In most cases, patients are resilient enough to overcome the stress of their trauma.
Biology helps with coping. An elevated level of cortisol release softens the psychological blows of traumatic events for most victims. The memory of a harrowing event is etched in the memory of those who don’t experience a higher level of cortisol release. Their subsequent depressions are triggered when an event in their life, such as an automobile accident, reminds them of their past.
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