Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Soldiers Injured in the Battles - Research Paper Example

Introduction The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is getting associated with the case of wounded soldiers in an increasing manner. It is found that the mortality rates of wounded soldiers have decreased from that of the earlier periods. In the occurrences of war in Afghanistan and Iraq it was observed that many soldiers had been severely wounded which resulted in their body to be disfigured. Some parts of their body also had stopped functioning properly. The soldiers on their return to native countries after the end of the war were observed to have countered a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for the prolonged warfare. It was found that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for the soldiers ranged from 12.2 to 12.9 percent. These soldiers became subjects of depression also. The rate of depression ranged from 7.1 to 7.9 percent. It was further observed that the rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ranged high in the case of injured soldiers to that of non-injured soldiers having faced the same circumstances. (Grieger, Cozza, Ursano, Hoge, Martinez, Engel & Wain, 2006; Goulston, 2007, p.332) Wounded Soldiers and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder It is found that the soldiers injured in the battles share a greater propensity to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in respect to other soldiers. They also become the subjects of severe depression. The main reason attributed to this cause is the long duration of their deployment in the war zones. However, it is observed that the observations made for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are generally made after long durations after the war. Soldiers who returned from the Vietnam war showed increased susceptibility to the disorder threats. In an observation made on the injured soldiers after a period of fifteen months from the end of Israeli combat it was found that 16.7 percent of the injured soldiers suffered from the indications of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The main reasons attributed to the cause of injured soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are found to be chronic pain, other physical problems and lack of proper medical attention. A survey conducted on the wounded soldiers in a period of four to seven months after the end of the war it is found that the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of such soldiers equaled to that of the non-wounded soldiers. It was found to rate to only 12 percent. To this extent it is inferred that the high level of medical treatment together with increased rest amounted to low scores for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in case of wounded patients just returned from war. (Grieger, Cozza, Ursano, Hoge, Martinez, Engel & Wain, 2006; Congressional Record, n.d., p.14797) Variation in the occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In the above discussion, it is found that the intensity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder increases with the passage of time from the end of war. However, the rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is found to be considerably less for the wounded soldiers who had just returned from the combats. In a similar manner, further research done on the subject of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder signifies some more variations on such aspects. In the course of research made a group of Australian brush fighters it is found that the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurring within a period of one to four months after the warfare. The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also occurred after a span of sixteen to eighteen months after the combat. Such symptoms are referred to as the symptoms of delayed onset of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Chronic cases were presented with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a passage of ten to twenty months after the war. The delayed occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder being further studied showed that after a period of eleven months from the end of war 41 cases emerged having such problems. However, along the same duration 59 cases were observed who had resolved the trauma and stress factors. Again, observation conducted after a time period of 29 months after the end of the war also showed like results. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was found to occur for 52 soldiers. However, during the same duration 35 soldiers were found to have resolved such war trauma and stress. In the research made on the occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder another observation showed that only 53 percent of the soldiers showed the same symptoms both in duration of 4 and 29 months. To this end, inference made along the above parameters stated that the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was mainly of three types viz. chronic, recurrent or continuous and those, which occurred at a later time period. (Jonathan, Davidson & Foa, 1993, pp.8-10) Recurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-Clinical Insights Clinical research made on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder suggests that main reasons, which can be attributed to occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at a later stage, involve some salient points. Mostly it is observed that soldiers subjected to long periods of deployment in the combat grounds help in reactivating the memories relating to war scenes and blooded combats. It is thus inferred that such war memories being revitalized delays the curing process. Further inferences drawn along the above cause contain lack of proper diagnosis of the soldier’s mental condition on his return from the war. It is also observed in this respect that soldiers prone to having such Post Traumatic Stress Disorder problems also were found to lack proper self-confidence. They were increasingly found to suffer from feelings of shame and guilt. To this end, it is found that the occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in a delayed state resulted to high level of psychiatric disorder combined with low level of social interaction. Thus, it is concluded that patients of delayed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are more vulnerable to psychological disturbances and the chances of return of the disorder to those who have had only been affected at one time. (Wolf, Mosnaim & American Psychiatric Association, 1990, pp. 121-122) Symptoms and Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder From the above discussions, it can be inferred that the occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder mainly occurs due to the effect of any severe trauma. The victim being present in the traumatized environment feels increased stress in himself, which can go on for long durations disturbing his social life. Some of the spontaneous symptoms of such Post Traumatic Stress can be sudden recalling of the traumatized events, unsocial and unpredicted behavior, declining to visit the war zones in future, insomnia and other depressive disorders. Proper psychiatric therapy consisting of gradual identification of events, which leads one to remember traumatic occurrences, helps one to take a balanced approach to such situations. Moreover, several activities like making of eye movements and conducting other forms of brain stimulations like making of sounds by clapping help in making the mind feel lighter from the weight of such thoughts. Proper courses of psychiatric medicine also help to get rid of such traumatic disorders. However, the most important fact of the treatment, which must be rendered to the patients suffering from traumatic disorders, is extended family support. The care and love of the family members help to a great extent in reducing the effects of prolonged stress emanated from the traumatic situations. Moreover, it is found that the victims of such Post Traumatic Stress Disorder taking resort to means like alcohol and drugs to get rid of such thoughts. However, it must be noted that though taking resort to such addictions may grant temporary help yet they turn out to be misleading in the end. It is observed that prolonged use of alcohol and drugs disturbs one’s social identity. It results to increase in family tensions culminating to depression. However, while going for the treatment proper identification must be made of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from other anxiety related syndromes and ailments. (Smith & Segal, 2010; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, 2010; Rhoades, Leaveck & Hudson, 1996. p-85; Sadock & Sadock, 2008. p-262). . Moreover, the present day army is found to use a virtual environment creating war like situation with sounds and special effects to make the soldiers psychologically strong. (New Virtual PTSD Treatment, 2007) Conclusion Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric ailment, which generally occurs when a person is made subject to prolonged events, which render trauma to his minds. The person being physically present at the trauma areas is found to recall certain events and situations linked to such events. Being psychologically, weak it happens that recalling of such events, which occur in a sudden manner, makes him feel stressed. The ailment resulting from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is mainly found to be associated with the case of injured soldiers. Such soldiers are found to represent a sense of inferiority complex and thereby tend to isolate themselves from social matters. They show symptoms like sudden burst of anger and social alienation. Moreover, it is found that the delayed occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder makes the situation be more worsened. The person can become more vulnerable to events like severe depression and can become prone to further reoccurrences of such disorders. Victims of such disorders often resort to taking of drugs and alcohol to reduce the tension. However, it is observed that taking resort to such additions further spoils the situation as it makes the person feel more alienated and depressed. In addition to proper psychiatric treatment, the victims of such disorder must receive continual support from the family members to gain their lost confidence. Reference 1. Congressional Record. (n.d.). Government Printing Office 2. Greiger, T., Cozza, S., Ursano, R., Hoge, C., Martinez, P., Engel, C. & H. Wain. (2006). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Battle-Injured Soldiers. The American Journal of Psychiatry. Vol. 163. pp-1777-1783. Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/ajp;163/10/1777 3. Goulston, M. (2007). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder For Dummies. For Dummies. 4. Jonathan, R., Davidson, T. & E. Foa. (1993). Posttraumatic stress disorder: DSM-IV and beyond. American Psychiatric Pub. 5. “New Virtual PTSD Treatment”, (2007). military.com. Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,129993,00.html 6. “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder”, (2010). medicinenet.com. Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from: http://www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder/article.htm 7. Rhoades, D., Leaveck, M. & J. Hudson. (1996). The Legacy of Vietnam Veterans and Their Families: Survivors of War: Catalysts for Change. DIANE Publishing. 8. Sadock, B. & V. Sadock. (2008). Kaplan & Sadock's concise textbook of clinical psychiatry. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 9. Smith, M. & R. Segal, (2010), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Retrieved on November 17, 2010 from: http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm 10. Wolf, M., Mosnaim, A. & American Psychiatric Association. (1990). Posttraumatic stress disorder: etiology, phenomenology, and treatment. American Psychiatric Pub. Read More