Introduction
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can happen among veterans after observing any traumatic condition at war[1]. During such incidents, an individual considers his life at risk. If a person sees some life-threatening activity, then PTSD can develop in him. Mostly, veterans observe the following types of risks. Those risks can be physical or sexual assault, military exposure, and terrorist attacks.
History
PTSD among veterans has a long history, but it took years for the psychiatrist to diagnose it. The history of PTSD is dated back to the 19th century, during the period of the Franco-Prussian War and the Civil War in the USA. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association made an addition to its third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. PTSD was added to the DSM-III as an anxiety disorder, but in the DSM’s fifth edition, it was revised. PTSD is not diagnosed as anxiety disorder now but is classified as a Trauma and Stress-related disorder.
Shell Shock
Present day PTSD was given some attention after the World War I, however, at that time, it was known shell shock. Some of its symptoms were sleep problems and panic. It was initially thought that a brain damage due to war is shell shock, however, later, it was reported that soldiers who were away from the war also observed the same problem. The most common treatment for shell shock at that time was electrotherapy and hydrotherapy.
Combat Stress Reaction (CSR)
After the World War II, shell shock was named as CSR. World War II consisted of several long surges which affected the soldiers, and they became exhausted. Several military discharges occurred due to CSR. PIE principles were used to treat CSR.
PTSD
The 1st DSM was published in 1951, and gross stress reaction was included in it, which was close to today’s definition of PTSD. The word PTSD was commonly used after the Vietnam War because of increased cases of PTSD. Several changes were made in the symptoms of PTSD with the passage of time.
Symptoms
PTSD symptoms may appear in the individual just within one month of the distressing activity, or it may appear after months or years[2]. Symptoms of PTSD can be divided into four categories. Those are avoidance, intrusive memories, emotional and physical reactions and negative mood swings.
Avoidance
A person with PTSD will try to avoid talking or thinking about traumatic activity. He or she will also avoid the spaces that recap of any traumatic event.
Intrusive Memories
- Unwanted, recurring memories of traumatic activity
- Flashbacks
- Physical reactions or emotional reactions that recap any traumatic activity
- Nightmares of traumatic activity
Emotional and Physical Reactions
- Can be frightened easily
- Self-destructive thoughts or behavior
- Sleep issues
- Concentration issues[3]
- Feeling of guilt
- Aggressive behavior
Negative Mood Swings
- Hopelessness
- Lack of positive emotions
- Detachment from friends and family
Treatment
There are several methods used for the treatment of PTSD, depending on the severity of PTSD. Psychotherapy and medications are used. However, it is recommended that a person with PTSD must consult a psychiatrist.
Statistics
Research shows that almost twenty out of every hundred veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are suffering from depression and PTSD[4]. The rate of PTSD among female and male soldiers of age eighteen and older ranges from nine to thirty-one percent[5]. The PTSD rate among the veterans who don’t seek treatment was twenty percent, whereas it was almost fifty for those who seek treatment. The lifetime rate of PTSD was remarkably higher among those who were part of the Vietnam War. PTSD among veterans of Marines was thirteen percent; eleven percent for the Navy, 9 percent for the Air Force, and sixty-seven percent for the Army. PTSD among army veterans is higher because they observed war incidents. The suicide rate among veterans has been increasing for the past few years, and this shows that the PTSD rate is rising because, most of the time, PTSD was found as a cause of suicide.
References
- Hehemann, M., Van Kuiken, M., Etingen, B., Weaver, F. M., & Branch, J. (2017). PD26-01 THE ASSOCIATION OF PTSD AND CHRONIC PROSTATITIS/CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME IN YOUNG MALE VETERANS. The Journal of Urology, 197(4), e506. ↑
- Steenkamp, M. M., Schlenger, W. E., Corry, N., Henn‐Haase, C., Qian, M., Li, M., … & Shalev, A. (2017). Predictors of PTSD 40 years after combat: findings from the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study. Depression and anxiety. ↑
- Mayo Clinic. (2017). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 11 September 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/dxc-20308550 ↑
- Marmar, C. R. (2015). Biomarkers for PTSD in Female Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. New York University School of Medicine New York, United States. ↑
- Veterans PTSD Statistics | Statistics: Depression, TBI and Suicide. (2015). Veteransandptsd.com. Retrieved 11 September 2017, from http://www.veteransandptsd.com/PTSD-statistics.html ↑
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