Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in War Veterans

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN contend VETERANS SC-PNG-0000009299 Alwin Aanand Thomson American Degree Program SEGi College Penang 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Post combat injurytic accent disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after motion picture to either nonethelesst that resolving powers in psychological trauma. This instance may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to ones own or someone elses physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, overwhelming the individuals ability to cope.As an effect of psychological trauma, PTSD is less frequent and more than enduring than the more comm unaccompanied seen acute latent hostility response. Diagnostic symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, and increased arousalsuch(prenominal) as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger, and hyper vigilance. Formal di agnostic criteria in DSM-IV-TR require that the symptoms last more than one month and ca design large impairment in social, occupational, or other serious areas of functioning (American Psychological Association). . 0 DIAGNOSIS Criteria The diagnostic criteria for PTSD, stipulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (Text Revision) (DSM-IV-TR), may be summarized as A Exposure to a traumatic event This must have involved both (a) loss of physical integrity, or risk of serious injury or death, to self or others, and (b) a response to the event that involved intense fear, horror, or helplessness (or in children, the response must involve disorganised or agitated behavior). The DSM-IV-TR criterion differs substantially from the previous DSM-III-R stressor criterion, which specified the traumatic event should be of a type that would cause significant symptoms of distress in al roughly anyone, and that the event was outside the deviate of usual human exper ience. B Persistent re-experiencing One or more of these must be render in the victim flashback memories, recurring distressing dreams, subjective re-experiencing of the traumatic event(s), or intense negative psychological or physiological response to any objective or subjective. C Persistent avoidance and emotional numbingThis involves a sufficient level of avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, such as accepted thoughts or feelings, or talking about the event(s) avoidance of behaviors, places, or people that might lead to distressing memories inability to recall major parts of the trauma(s), or decreased engagement in significant life activities decreased capacity (down to complete inability) to feel certain feelings an expectation that ones future will be somehow constrained in ways not normal to other people. D Persistent symptoms of increased arousal not present beforeThese are all physiological response issues, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, or problems with anger, concentration, or hypervigilance. E Duration of symptoms for more than 1 month If all other criteria are present, hardly 30 days have not elapsed, the individual is diagnosed with Acute stress disorder. F Significant impairment The symptoms account must lead to clinically significant distress or impairment of major domains of life activity, such as social relations, occupational activities, or other important areas of functioning. (DSM-IV-TR, American psychiatrical Assocation) . 0 PTSD IN WAR VETERANS 3. 1 Facts & Figures Operation Iraqi Freedom has conk the deadliest American milliliteritary conflict since the Vietnam War. Uto 13 percent of the military man returning from the deployment have reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With the daily violence in this war torn country, returns men and women are subjected to increased levels of stress which can trigger PTSD. After fighting for their country and risking their lives, allow ing them to return home only to be haunted by their actions degrades everything they were sent to Iraq to accomplish.Since the Vietnam War, methods of treating PTSD have substantial and lowered the number of cases, but simply lowering the number of cases is not good enough. Unless avail members can be prevented from experiencing these negative emotions, every one of them is tenanted in a possible suicide mission. With the proper procedures introduced and carried out as proposed, not only the service members can be helped, but their families as well. collectable to current operations in the Middle East and the young combat operations in the past decade, many citizens have met somebody who has experienced their tract of combat related stress.When you look at somebody who has been in combat, they may look like your average person on the outside, but on the inwardly lays memories of the violent scenes of war torn countries. Their genial health may not be noticeably altered, but t hey could very well suffer from haunting memories, flashbacks, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can produce emotional responses caused by the trauma endured during combat operations. It does not have to emerge immediately, but can very happen weeks, months, or even years after the traumatic event.PTSD was often referred to as combat fatigue or shell shock until 1980 when it was given the shout out post-traumatic stress disorder. According to William Welch of USA Today, PTSD is produced from a traumatic event that provoked intense fear, helplessness, or horror. The events are sometimes re-experienced through intrusive memories, nightmares, hallucinations, or flashbacks. Symptoms of PTSD include troubled sleep, irritability, anger, poor concentration, hyper vigilance, and exaggerated responses.Emotions felt by victims of PTSD include depression, detachment or estrangement, guilt, intense anxiety, panic, and other negative emotions (2005) . bring out of over 240,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan already discharged from the service, nearly 13,000 have been in U. S. segment of Veterans Affairs (VA) counseling centers for readjustment problems and symptoms associated with PTSD (Welch, 2005). Operation Iraqi Freedom has become the deadliest American conflict since the Vietnam War and because of this, new data detailed by Cep79m. v shows that 12 to 13 percent of troops returning from Iraq reported PTSD symptoms epoch about 3 to 4 percent reported other mental distress. A new Army study found that 11 percent of troops returning from Afghanistan reported symptoms of mental distress. Although wartime psychology was just beginning during the Vietnam War era, later studies showed that nearly 15 percent of troops who served there suffered PTSD. The most recent studies found that nearly 30 percent of the Vietnam War veterans have essential physiological problems after returning from the war.PTSD estimates for veterans of the first Gulf War range between 2 and 10 percent (2004). These numbers are based on several key factors. The amount of combat related stress varies by unit and will determine the amount of emotional stress a soldier in that particular unit will experience. For example, according to The New England daybook of Medicine, out of 1709 Soldiers and Marines surveyed, those who returned from Iraq reported higher rates of combat experience and frequency than those returning from Afghanistan. Its probable that those who experience more combat situations are more likely to suffer to PTSD.As noted in The New England Journal of Medicine, out of those surveyed, 71 to 86 percent deployed to Iraq reported engaging in a firefight as apposed to only 31 percent in Afghanistan. Soldiers and Marines returning from Iraq were significantly more likely to report that they were currently experiencing a mental health problem, were interested in receiving help for their mental problems, and actually used me ntal health services (Hoge et al, 2004). As noted earlier, according to William Welch of USA Today, PTSD is produced from a traumatic event that provoked intense fear, helplessness, or horror (2005).Being wounded while in combat is a perfect example of an event which provokes intense fear. Among those who participated in a recent survey, 11. 6 percent reported being wounded or injured while in Iraq compared to 4. 6 percent of those in Afghanistan (Hoge et al, 2004). This is a sop up indication that the events a soldier experiences during deployment will have influence on the possibility of PTSD after redeploying to the United States. Intense situations do not circumvolve around being wounded or injured. Operation Iraqi Freedom has become the deadliest American conflict since the Vietnam War.As a result, CNN notes that 90 percent of those who served in Iraq reported being shot at. A high percentage also reported killing an enemy combatant, or knowing somebody who was injured or kil led. round half said they handled a body while serving in Iraq (2004). In addition to CNNs article, Cep79m. tv announced amazing data wake one in four Marines reported killing an Iraqi civilian while one in four Army soldiers reported engaging in hand-to-hand combat. More than 85 percent of those surveyed know somebody who has been injured or killed. More than half claimed handling corpses or human remains (2004). 3. interference and Prevention There is help available to those returning from the war torn countries. Almost 17 percent of the troops surveyed, who served in Iraq, suffered mental health problems while less than half of them have looked for professional help after ending their tours (Cep79m. tv, 2004). Sergeant First Class (SFC) Doug Sample of the American Forces Press Service reports that service members can get confidential counseling through the military services One Source program. The 24-hour-a-day service is for service members and their families, and provides qu ick, professional assistance with problems (2004).The reason only half of them are seeking help could be the possibility of negative attention from their unit. Dr. William Winkenwerder says that a main barrier preventing soldiers from getting help is the perception of trade name that some individuals have about coming forward to get that care and counseling (Gilmore, 2004). CNN interviewed Staff Sergeant (SSG) Georg-Andreas Pogany who saw an Iraqi body which had suffered severe trauma on his second day in Iraq. Suffering from a nervous breakdown and struggling to sleep that night, he decided to tell his superior officer.He was panicked he would freeze up on patrol and was worried about the consequences. Instead of being given help, he was told to reconsider his concerns for the sake of his career. A arranger attached to the 10th Special Forces Group was sent back and charged with cowardice after experiencing the same type of emotional stress. Though his charge was dropped, his e xhibit is still uncertain (2004). Post-traumatic stress disorder may not be preventable in every individual who steps foot inside a combat zone, but things can be done to lower the number of cases which occur after deploying.The army, for example, works under a tough and naturalistic knowledge motto. They train their soldiers during peacetime as if they were actually in a combat zone. Live-fire ranges along with tough and realistic training have helped soldiers prepare for combat and the numbers developed from the data is surprisingly low. But that doesnt surprise many people because according to Gilmore, they have used information from former prisoners of wars to help train todays service members to be ready for combat (2004). The military works on a schedule allowing units to use live fire ranges at certain times with a certain number of live rounds.A possibility to help lower the amount of PTSD cases related to intense combat situations would be allowing soldiers to use live fi re ranges more often. If this means raising taxes a little more to allow for a larger budget, then by all means, its worth it. Before, during, and after deployment, service members are given counseling sessions to prepare them for intense situations as well as t all(prenominal)ing them about the possibility of mental health damage. This has been a change since the Vietnam War, which could be another factor which has helped lower the amount of PTSD cases throughout the military.Another possible solution to PTSD would be to picture soldiers throughout their entire career. Before Operation Enduring Freedom, it had been nearly 10 years since the last major conflict which involved ground forces. In those 10 years, if soldiers were given briefings on the possibility of mental health damage after combat, there is a chance they would have been more prepared to deal with those situations. The Department of Defense could easily make it mandatory that each service member receives several brie fings each year during their entire military career to include during deployments. Citing recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research, Winkenwerder noted some people seem more predisposed to develop depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorders as a result of negative childhood experiences (Gilmore, 2004). Apparently, the better the life a child has while growing up, the more ready for combat they will be. The Department of Defense requires each applicant for the armed forces to take a examine which allows them to qualify for a certain job within the military.Another possibility would be adding a section to the test which measures the type of childhood an applicant experienced. They could then choose only those who did not have many negative childhood experiences, if that statement is at all accurate, to consume their combat oriented positions. 4. 0CONCLUSION According to the data gathered during recent surveys, it is clear that although the violence of wa r will remain the same, it is possible to lower the percentage of service members who experience mental disturbance such as post-traumatic stress disorder from combat situations. It may be impossible o completely rid the put up force of the possibility of PTSD, but with enough counseling before, during, and after combat operations, the percentage of those who suffer from it may be lowered dramatically. More tough and realistic training will also help set soldiers into the mindset of what it takes to survive a combat situation. The treatment and prevention is there, but does not seem to be used quite enough. Not using the prevention methods is almost like sending our troops on a suicide mission. Cep79m. tv, (2004, July 1). Soldier Mental illness Hits Vietnam Level. Retrieved April 6, 2012 from http//www. cep79m. v/soldiermentalillness. htm (http//www. cep79m. tv/soldiermentalillness. htm) CNN, (2004, July 1). Combat stress The war within. Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http//www. cn n. com/2004/HEALTH/07/01/post. traumatic. stress/ (http//www. cnn. com/2004/HEALTH/07/01/post. traumatic. stress/) Gilmore, G. , (2004, July 1). Combat Degrades Some Troops Mental Health, Report Says. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http//www. defenselink. mil/news/Jul2004/n07012004_2004070106. html (http//www. defenselink. mil/news/Jul2004/n07012004_2004070106. html) Welch, W. , (2005, February 28). Trauma of Iraq War Haunting Thousands Returning Home.Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http//www. commondreams. org/cgi-bin/print. cgi? file=/headlines05/0228-01. htm (http//www. commondreams. org/cgi-bin/print. cgi? file=/headlines05/0228-01. htm) NIMH Post Traumatic Stress Disorder look for Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Mental Health. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http//www. nimh. org/ptsdfactsheet/ A soldier carrying his wounded compatriot Smoking as a common stress reliever among soldiers. Traumatic flashback occurring on duty. Anti-depressants are common among veterans. Traumatic enough to bring the toughest of men to tears.