Understanding the Impact of Post
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- Date Submitted: 10/12/2010 10:49 AM
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Understanding the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
In the last eighty years or so, it seems there has been a war for each generation in the American family. Gramps fought in World War I, dad fought in World War II, and sons served in Korea, Vietnam, and so on. In recent decades it seems that the world situation has gotten to the point that it can't seem to make it through a decade without some sort of "conflict".
More and more men and women in our armed forces are returning home from foreign wars that are becoming more and more unconventional with each passing generation; we are seeing an increase in the number of veterans with both physical and mental health problems. These veterans deserve our gratitude and compassion, but most of all our understanding of the real problems resulting from their generous service to our country.
I'm sure that almost everyone has heard the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but how many of us really understand what's behind the terminology? The definition of PTSD first appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Third Edition (DSM III). The manual has since been through several more revisions, the latest of which is the DSM IVTR, Fourth Edition
For the sake of brevity, since newer editions reveal a much more wordy and complex definition, the following definition is taken from the DSM III, Third Edition309.81 Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic or Delayed.
"The essential feature is the development of characteristic symptoms following a psychologically traumatic event that is generally outside the range of usual human experience." 1.
What this means is the stressor producing this syndrome could come from such things as military combat, a car accident, bombing, torture, rape, and airplane crashes just to mention a few. It is misleading to think that PTSD is limited to military combat.
The symptoms of PTSD can manifest themselves almost immediately or remain dormant...
In the last eighty years or so, it seems there has been a war for each generation in the American family. Gramps fought in World War I, dad fought in World War II, and sons served in Korea, Vietnam, and so on. In recent decades it seems that the world situation has gotten to the point that it can't seem to make it through a decade without some sort of "conflict".
More and more men and women in our armed forces are returning home from foreign wars that are becoming more and more unconventional with each passing generation; we are seeing an increase in the number of veterans with both physical and mental health problems. These veterans deserve our gratitude and compassion, but most of all our understanding of the real problems resulting from their generous service to our country.
I'm sure that almost everyone has heard the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but how many of us really understand what's behind the terminology? The definition of PTSD first appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Third Edition (DSM III). The manual has since been through several more revisions, the latest of which is the DSM IVTR, Fourth Edition
For the sake of brevity, since newer editions reveal a much more wordy and complex definition, the following definition is taken from the DSM III, Third Edition309.81 Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic or Delayed.
"The essential feature is the development of characteristic symptoms following a psychologically traumatic event that is generally outside the range of usual human experience." 1.
What this means is the stressor producing this syndrome could come from such things as military combat, a car accident, bombing, torture, rape, and airplane crashes just to mention a few. It is misleading to think that PTSD is limited to military combat.
The symptoms of PTSD can manifest themselves almost immediately or remain dormant...