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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD is an anxiety disorder and an emotional illness after developing receiving some traumatic injury, frightening, threatening life event, and/or serious physical assault. It’s a psychiatric condition that occurs after catastrophic life events.
PTSD is mostly diagnosed in soldiers after traumatic events in war. Combat in war has terrifying effect on soldiers, Civil war veterans and soldiers were adversely affected by the traumatic events. According to the mental health association 1 in every 8 suffer from PTSD.
In recent research brains of soldiers suffering from PTSD were compared with those who were not suffering from stress. A sample of 42 soldiers was recruited who returned from war in Afghanistan and Iraq. 22 soldiers were suffering from PTSD while 20 were taken as control (The Canadian Press, 2009). Functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were taken while they were performing memory tasks. During this task dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex was examined, which is involved in keeping a person focused on particular tasks. Increased sensitivity was observed in this area of brain in PTSD patients. PTSD group performed poorly in memory tasks. They were asked to recognize photographs after they were shown a set of 3 together and then again 1 photo to recognize whether it’s anyone of previous. They were not able to recognize it properly.
This was inconsistent with hyper-vigilance symptoms. The other symptoms they suffer from are frightening thoughts, sleeplessness, feel detached, lonely and avoid socializing and events that may cause trauma.
PTSD has also been called, “combat fatigue”, “Battle fatigue” and shell shock. PTSD mostly results from exposure to disastrous events and may become a complex condition (C-PTSD) complex posttraumatic stress disorder when exposed to prolonged traumatic events.
Events in war like bombs noise, disaster, deaths & killing, blood stains, Kalashnikov, firings produce very frightening and threatening scenes that affects brains of soldiers. Witnessing war related combat will result in nightmares, flashbacks, detachment, unable to concentrate, irritability and unable to rest and sleep. That’s why it was also called combat fatigue and shellshock.
‘The most important thing we can do for service members who have been in combat is to help them understand that the earlier that they get help when they need it, the better off they’ll be.’ — DR. CHARLES W. HOGE, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
The study also revealed that less than half seek treatment and sought advice. In another study 4 different groups were studied and compared. Army brigades before they went on war in Iraq, then after 8 months in Iraq, and 6 months in Afghanistan, and Marine battalions after they returned from Iraq in 6 months. Survey was taken in the form questionnaires to ask about their experience in combat, their mental health, any mental health service they sought. PTSD and anxiety was reported in 16-17% from those who returned from Iraq and 11% in those who returned from Afghanistan (Associated press, 2009). PTSD sufferers were more in Iraqi troop as they faced more prolonged combat and firefighting. Less than half only 38-40 wanted to get help. As they were mostly concerned about their future career, their mental health status and stigma they would face in society. Several others who might have not mentioned their help seeking, because they are skeptical and would like to keep it confidential as they would not disclose their bad mental status and would not like to have any stigma related with mental health.
References
Associated press, (2009). 1 in 8 returning soldiers suffers from PTSD. Web.
The Canadian Press, (2009). Scans show heightened activity in brains of soldiers with post-traumatic stress. Web.
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