Veterans of PTSD PBS NOW
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/339/index.html
“…Bouts of fierce anger, depression, and anxiety that previous generations of soldiers described as “shell shock” or “combat/battle fatigue” now earn a clinical diagnosis: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But the relatively new medical label doesn’t guarantee soldiers will get the care they need. NOW looks at how America’s newest crop of returning soldiers is coping with the emotional scars of war, and some new and innovative treatments for them.
In the show, we spent time with Iraq War veteran Michael Zacchea, a Marine lieutenant colonel who trained Iraqi troops and fought in the battle of Fallujah. Haunted by the violence he saw there, Zacchea and other soldiers diagnosed with PTSD now face what could be a lifelong struggle to leave the horrors of war behind and reclaim their once-peaceful lives…”
Week of 9.28.07 : Veterans of PTSD Transcript – September 28, 2007- http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/339.html
PTSD Facts and Figures:
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after one experiences a traumatic event. The disorder is characterized by flashbacks of the event, nightmares, anxiety, avoidance, and social withdrawal. PTSD may take months or years to manifest.
Facts and Figures
The following factors increase the likelihood of PTSD: Youth, a history of depression or trauma, multiple deployments, and relentless exposure to violence.
30.9% of Vietnam veterans in one study had developed PTSD during their lifetimes.
Between 1999 and 2004, the number of veterans seeking benefits for PTSD increased 79%.
In Iraq, roughly one in six combatants has experienced PTSD.
35 percent of Iraq veterans sought psychological counseling within a year of coming home, according to the Department of Defense.
References:
Department of Veterans Affairs: National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, 1988.
Archives of Internal Medicine: Bringing the War Back Home, Karen H. Seal, MD, MPH; Daniel Bertenthal, MPH; Christian R. Miner, PhD; Saunak Sen, PhD; Charles Marmar, MD, March 2007.
Veterans Administration: Investigation by the Office of the Inspector General, 2005.
Department of Defense: The Psychological Needs of U.S. Military Service Members and Their Families: A Preliminary Report, February 2007.
Coping With PTSD:
Whether a veteran served in Iraq or served more than 20 years ago in Vietnam, the experience of combat may cause lasting psychological stress. For some people, these reactions do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. In these cases, veterans may have an anxiety disorder known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, a branch of the Veterans Administration, urges active duty or veteran service members to educate themselves about PTSD and seek help. Professionals and places that may help include a VA hospital, family doctor, therapist or spiritual counselor.
PTSD Resources:
National Center for PTSD: Help for Veterans and their Families ( http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/veterans/ )
National Center for PTSD: Coping with PTSD and Recommended Lifestyle Changes ( http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_coping.html )
National Center for PTSD: Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Families (PDF) ( http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/manuals/GuideforFamilies.pdf )
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: Mental Health Problems Among Iraq and AfghanistanVeterans ( http://www.iava.org/component/option,com_/Itemid,66/option,content/task,view/id,2414/ )
National Institutes of Health: Dealing With Trauma ( http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/339/ptsd-help.html )
source
