A/N: This chapter is going to get clinical again and contains more cited research. I decided to not add a bibliography at the end since it would be way too long. If you have questions about any of the research, please e-mail and I'll send you the information. Suffice to say that I did pull from several resources and did not make the research up. I give complete credit to the author's of the research.

Chapter 14: Research

Dr. Beckett had assigned nurses and technicians shifts throughout the day to observe the Major and care for him while he was in recovery after flat-lining earlier that morning. This served a dual purpose since it would free him up to do his research.

Major Sheppard was still on the ventilator and the Doctor knew that he would have to eventually get the Major to start breathing on his own. In fact, he should probably remove him from the breathing apparatus sooner than later before he made him dependent on the mechanism.

He decided that he would give it a try after lunch. In the mean time, he went through his psychiatric databases and found some helpful research on PTSD. He came across several journal articles focusing on various treatment modalities. These would prove useful since he was a bit rusty with what little psychiatric training he had received in med school.

He recalled that there were several psychopharmaceuticals used in the treatment of symptoms in patients with PTSD including phenelzine, imipramine, and carbamazepine. Each of these could be used for various psychological issues such as nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive memories; social withdrawal and numbing; and controling of aggressive behavior and irritability, respectively (Maxmen & Ward, 1995).

That was all fine and dandy but none of these drugs were available in his pharmacy stores. He had a handful of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications but nothing that could be of real help. It could take up to two weeks for him to synthesize the substances even if he did have access to plants on the mainland with the properties he needed to extract. Dr. Beckett decided that the best course of action would be to take a more holistic approach. He would pull from the resources he had available, mainly the people in the Major's life. So with that in mind he launched into his research.

The first article the Doctor came across compared trauma-focused versus non trauma-focused group therapy. There was no significant difference in outcome of the treatment; however, the trauma-focused therapy was more effective in reducing numbing and avoidance behaviors both of which the Major had recently displayed (Schurr, et. al., 2003). The Doctor also discovered that nightmares could be transformed into a therapeutic tool where the depotentiation of a dream could increase control and confidence for the person working through trauma (Brockway, 1987). This could prove useful in helping to contain the Major's episodes and give him a sense of control over his own treatment.

Another article investigated the use of group therapy in helping with feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. The research indicated that individuals in group therapy for PTSD, when given pre- and post-test assessments for low self-esteem, showed an improvement in their scores when compared with a control group that did not receive group therapy (Volkner, 1999). This information was especially useful to the Doctor in understanding how to help John with his feelings of shame and not being able to face his teammates.

Further research, gave more credence to group therapy with the authors arguing that sufferers of military-related trauma are not necessarily "cured" of PTSD but to come to recognize the lasting and profound impact of trauma on their lives. This can be done while exploring the potential for sharing, little-by-little, their experience of self-renewal with group therapy members. The article argued that a connection to a sense of self and the realization by the victim of available personal, familial, and societal resources, provide them with a safe environment when treated in a group setting (Ford & Stewart, 1999).

The most helpful article the Doctor reviewed revealed that there are three group therapy modalities that worked best including supportive, psychodynamic, and congnitive-behavioral that he could choose to utilize in the Major's treatment (Foy, et.al., 2001). Upon reviewing all the relevant research available to him, Dr. Beckett decided that a coordinated treatment incorporating a group modality would be most beneficial to the Major. He also, determined that a cognitive-behavioral approach would work best with Major Sheppard's personality.

Encouraged with his findings, Dr. Beckett believed he could devise a treatment plan utilizing the Major's teammates. He could enlist their help and integrate the mental healing along with his physical therapy utilizing a dual seamless process. In other words, he would be killing two birds with one stone. The team could participate physical therapy exercises as a way to build trust at the same time providing the Major with the emotional support he needed. The team could act as surrogate family members providing a safe environment for the Major to recover in. The Doctor smiled inwardly at himself wondering if anyone could have come up with a more ingenious plan. He was starting to sound like Rodney.

The main obstacle to his brilliance would be getting the Major to agree to such an arrangement. Dr. Beckett knew he could count on the team to pitch in. They had been trough so much already and had formed the requisite bonds. The Major could be a pretty stubborn man but the Doctor had on more than one occasion seen the softer side of him. He recalled a certain occasion, when the Major offered to help a certain Wraith by the name of Steve, from certain death. He was sure he could exploit this part of John's personality.

It was getting close to lunch. The Doctor went to check on the Major and to give the technician some instructions before heading to the mess hall for a sandwich and some coffee. Dr. Beckett was anxious to share his findings with Dr. Weir and receive her blessing on his treatment plan.

He returned to his office with lunch in hand. He poured through some more research and once he had downed his coffee and sandwich, decided it was time to take the Major off of the ventilator. He hoped to bloody hell that there would be no unforeseen complications.

The Doctor strode over to the Major's bedside and the tech, knowing what procedure was to be performed, joined to assist him. Dr. Beckett quietly sighed as the technician turned off the breathing apparatus as instructed and removed the breathing mask from the Major's face.

There were a few tense seconds as the Major's breathing came to a halt. Much to the Doctor's relief, the Major took in a stable breath and after a few more breaths, yawned. The Doctor and the tech exchanged delighted smiles and head nods. Dr. Beckett listened to the Major's lungs with his stethoscope. Once satisfied that his patient was breathing steadily, he indicated to the tech that the apparatus could be removed to the storage area.

The Doctor noticed that some of the color had returned to the Major's face and that he looked somewhat more relaxed. Thankfully, the Major was in excellent physical condition or else he wouldn't imagine him surviving this ordeal. He was pleased with how quickly he was bouncing back. He hoped that the Major's mental resolve and resilience would also eventually kick in allowing for a quick recovery.

The Doctor would attempt to awaken the Major later in the early evening reasoning that the sooner he was conscious, the sooner he would recover. When the tech returned, the Doctor went back to his office and passed the afternoon sketching out a treatment plan to have ready to report to Dr. Weir. There was now no doubt in his mind that the Major could completely recover from the post-traumatic stress with the help of his friends.