Overview of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Essay Example

Combat-Related PTSD and Current Research Michael J. Cornell of Central Florida Overview of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not a present-day disorder; it has been acknowledged all through history but labeled in various ways. PTSD had been related to soldiers serving in the military over a long time. During the Civil War (1861 to 1865), medics and military commanders identified symptoms of PTSD and named them as “soldier’s heart”, thus no true diagnosis or cure was implemented (Carter-Visscher, et al, 2010). During the Vietnam War (1955 to 1975), PTSD was called “Post-Vietnam Syndrome.” Regardless of the increasing number of soldiers throughout time and various military conflicts sharing related symptoms, the American Psychiatric Association did not officially acknowledge Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) until the year 1980. PTSD, an anxiety turmoil brought about by exposure to distress, is now a generally acknowledged diagnosis that is experienced by both genders (Chaumba & Bride, 2010). Some of the universal symptoms may include; invasive thoughts, dodging of stimuli connected to the trauma and continuous symptoms of augmented stimulation. PTSD makes no favoritism as it can ensue to any person who has been open to the elements of a traumatic happening. However, for purposes of this research paper, the focus will be limited to the diagnosis, effects and treatment of PTSD in military; specifically from veterans between the Vietnam-era and Iraq/Afghanistan deployments as stated by Chaumba & Bride (2010). Despite various studies showing that some women are more susceptible to PTSD than men, many mental health professionals generally keep on diagnosing PTSD in male soldiers at a higher rate than females (Feczer & Bjorklund, 2009). One supposition for this inconsistency explains that for most military conflicts, women were not allowed to serve in front-line combat positions (Feinstein & Sinyor, 2009). However, in present day combat situations, a good number of female soldiers hold roles that place them in direct battle zones, thus escalating their threat of being open to the elements of combat-related distress at similar levels to those of their male counterparts. In order to diagnose PTSD, assessors must bring into play the criterion and listing of symptoms as explained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR) formed by the American Psychiatric Association. Even though the DSM-IV-TR does not differentiate whether PTSD symptoms present differently in men versus women, it is essential to reflect on gender differences when designing suitable treatment strategies (King & King, 1996). Without suitable diagnostic equipment, it is not easy to adequately tackle the gender-specific personal and professional difficulties that women may be putting up with because of their individual situations. It is imperative to create an evaluation tool that factor in gender differences in presenting symptoms (Geppert & Maiers, 2009). This research paper proposes that PTSD symptoms will have an effect on both women and men in different ways due to gender parity in PTSD system adoption. It will recommend that additional studies need to be enacted in order to create specific assessment equipment that is more gender receptive. This is because of the restricted amount of study in gender-specific symptoms in PTSD. Such equipment and strategies will suitably allow medical professionals to come up with a more precise and harmonious treatment planning process for both male and female soldiers tormented by PTSD (Murdoch & Hodges, 2003). Current Research into PTSD and the Effects By the fact that American soldiers’ exposure to the Vietnam War, a lot of alarm arose from different soldiers for the reason that those who contracted debilitating combat-related stressors never received support from the Veteran’s Administration that may have alleviated their condition. Later in time, researchers carried out studies concerning the treatment of people affected by PTSD and their recommendations were instituted and reflected a variety of methods focusing on the predicament with conclusiveness (Savas et al, 2009). Past studies established that different forms of combat-related PTSD affect individual soldiers differently and therefore different curative measures to deal with the different forms of the problem were developed. Researchers continued their work to discover things that may pre-expose certain soldiers to PTSD while others remained unaffected even after participating in the same battle. Many of the completed studies found that soldiers with pre-existing mental conditions, such as depression or anxiety disorders, were more susceptible to the risk of the combat-related PTSD after exposure to engagement with an enemy. The research also detailed that soldiers assessed with similar conditions described above prior to deployment, had upon return, developed PTSD symptoms that’s was eight percent higher than their undiagnosed counterparts (Haskell et al, 2010). From past discoveries of problems associated with combat-related PTSD, medical providers have developed a variety of ways to address the problem (Friedman, 2006). Higher rates of various social ills, such as substance dependence or homelessness are seen with veterans from the Vietnam War compared to those from the more recent Iraq and Afghanistan engagements. This is perhaps due to the extent that treatment options and support from government agencies like the VA were woefully inadequate. Many of the Vietnam-era veterans held deep distrusts towards the veteran Administration and therefore may not have sought treatment for a variety of social and mental stressors, thus leading to undiagnosed and untreated chronic difficulties and situations (Kelly, et al, 2008). Trends in PTSD diagnosis/Treatments In order to curb the effects of combat-related PTSD, there have been various methods, which have offered solution to the problem, and that caregivers have used to treat the problem. These methods of treatment fall under the categories of psychological and pharmacological therapies and involve different procedures completed for individual consumers and patients (Feinstein & Sinyor, 2009). Through these methods, the affected generally attain healthier conditions and quality of life than their untreated counterparts. The psychological methods vary according to the particular activities of the veteran seeking relief and through which a caregiver may subject a client to alleviate his or her particular evidence-based treatment plan (Street, Vogt, & Dutra, 2009). Another strategy that addresses the problems associated with combat-related PTSD is the use of certain pharmacotherapies; drugs used to help improve the ailment. There are different drugs that doctors use in this process and they vary in efficiency and impact during the critical time of intervention. In this respect, more recent drugs like Prazozin, originally designed for heart arthymia, but has been shown to reduce the incidents of night terrors, may produce substantial results that have a notable positive impact on related PTSD symptoms with their continued regulated usage (Kelly et al, 2008). According to several methods used to treat combat-related PTSD, either psychotherapeutically or pharmacologically, there are often no differentiations of treatment in terms of classification. This means that most people receive similar treatments which have a similar goal; to alleviate the condition of the patients and help them to cope with life as normal as they could (Vishnevsky, Cann, Calhoun, Tedeschi, & Demakis 2010). The trend in treating PTSD has been changing over the time with the developments of different diagnosis procedures in the market. Because of this, earlier diagnosis is different from what is witnessed today. In today’s treatment, there are many options available in rendering the services in ensuring that the victims are safe and trauma free. For instance, early treatments were pegged on the family support in providing therapy, which has since changed (Smith & Segal, 2013). Most families who had victims had to talk to them and help them explore their world as they come to accept their condition. This was met with several challenges since they were not able to do it professionally hence omitted many facts which latter affected the victims. Similarly, there was use of medication meant to relieve depression. However, the medications were seen to be inefficient as they only made victims feel less sad without treating the cause of PTSD. Despite the perception on the effectiveness of earlier treatments for this disorder, there has been a development of modern ways of offering treatment. One of them has been trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy (Smith & Segal, 2013). This is through gradually exposing feelings, situation and thoughts that reminds one of the past traumas then replacing them with a more balanced picture which brings individuals happiness. This treatment has proved its effectiveness in the modern day and embraced by many victims unlike the earlier treatments. Treatments for Combat-Related PTSD Victims Numerous researchers have studied diverse conditions through which individuals become victims of PTSD consequential of a traumatic experience that may vary in terms of level. The choice of different methods to treat different conditions in patients takes the form of evidence based practice because it depend on the evidence of the existence of the condition to implement practice (Smith, 2007). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one type of counseling. With CBT, a therapist helps the service member dealing with PTSD understand and change how thoughts and beliefs about the trauma, and about the world, cause stress and maintain current symptoms. CBT has been shown to be successful in treating PTSD in a number of well controlled studies. However, there are a handful of service members for whom certain interventions may be inappropriate or for whom other treatment problems (e.g., co-occurring conditions) may also need to be addressed (Sundin, Iversen, & Wessly, 2010). In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another type of therapy for PTSD. EMDR uses a combination of talk therapy with specific eye movements. As in the case of CBTs listed above, EMDR has also been shown to be effective in treating PTSD. In general, it appears that the talk therapy component is helpful, but most evidence suggests that the eye movement component does not add much, if any, benefit. Like other kinds of psychotherapy, the talk therapy component of EMDR can help change the reactions to memories service members experience because of their trauma(s) as outlined by US Department of Veteran Affairs. Implications to social work practices PTSD affects people negatively. In the case of the combat soldier, many veterans feel particularly with those serving during the Vietnam era that the VA has inadequately addressed the plight of the affected soldiers. This has in turn been perceived as lack of support and thought to aggravate their condition. Many veterans feel that social workers that have not experienced the brutal fog and horror of war could not possibly relate or contribute to the wellbeing of its soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines (McCormack, 2009). Therefore, there is need for the social workers to get into their shoes and deal with the veterans in a way that they feel their dignity is withheld. In this way, the veterans will not be bitter that the social workers do not understand their situation. New research finds that repeatedly hearing the stories of trauma victims doubles the risk of social workers themselves experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. In a study titled “Social Work”, the author finds that while 7.8 percent of the general population experience PTSD over a lifetime, 15 percent of the social workers surveyed met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD within the week prior to being surveyed (Nauert, 2007). This means that social workers too undergo the same traumas hence they have a better understanding of the same though not to that much extent. Therefore, it will be very essential to select social workers who has understanding of the situation or to those who have overcome the situation for they are better experienced in dealing with veterans suffering the same. Lastly, it will be important if social workers are trained on every situation dealing with the PTSD as they come in various measures, which requires different training methodologies. Despite diagnosis measures being available, social workers should be trained and given skills to deal with different situations as their lack of skills and expertise works to their disadvantage. This always results to misdiagnosis or leaving the veterans unattended when they needs the attention of the caretakers. Training and equipping the social workers will help them avoid all these inconveniencies as spelt in the middle paragraphs. Conclusion While the Vietnam War, World War I, World War II, the Civil War and others raged on, often the drive towards victory overshadowed the impact of these conflicts on the psyche of the returning hardened and often broken combat soldier. Since the beginning of recorded time, there have been wars and battles and men and women who have fought in them and there have been and always will be issues that relate to traumas and mental difficulties. According to the research discovered above, the focus should base on the healing aspect of PTSD rather than reasons or how the illness was contracted as it seems to be effective. One could be wallowed forever in bitterness at the many people, leaders, and motives that led to the conflicts, which perhaps led to the disorder. The crux of the problem is that millions of veterans have the illness and we should do what needs to be done to help these veterans get well as argued by Wojcik, Akhtar, & Hassell (2009). Through this, the whole population will be smiling all the way as there is improved health unlike in the earlier days. References Carter-Visscher, R. et al. (2010). Pre-deployment gender differences in stressors and mental health among U.S. National Guard troops poised for Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(1), 78-85. Chaumba, J., & Bride, B. (2010). Trauma experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder among women in the United States military. 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Retrieved on 30, June, 2013 from: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment. htm Sundin J., Iversen A. & Wessly S. (2010). PTSD after deployment to Iraq: conflicting rates, conflicting claims. Psychological Medicine 2010, 40, 367–382. Wojcik, B., Akhtar, F., & Hassell, L. (2009). Hospital admissions related to mental disorders in U.S. Army soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military Medicine, 174(10), 1010-1018. Read More