Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Report

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder also known as PTSD is an emotional condition that can develop following a traumatic or terrifying event. PTSD has only been recognized as a diagnosis since 1980. This emotional disorder was brought to public attention after soldiers would return home and often referred to as “shell shock or combat fatigue”.

The First World War, also known as the Great War, took place from 1914 to 1918. Over those four years, the world watched in horror as one of the most brutal wars in history occurred. Over 37 million soldiers were killed and around 21 million soldiers were wounded. The trauma of the war did not only wound the soldiers’ bodies, but also their minds (Showalter). By the end of the war, the British Army had seen 80,000 cases of shell shock. Shell shock, similar to what we call post-traumatic stress disorder today, was psychological trauma experienced by soldiers due to their experienced in the war. Soldiers with shell shock experienced a variety of symptoms including nightmares, vivid flashbacks, anxiety, and some even had symptoms that mimicked

Likenesses that identify with those of this disease can be found all through the story "The Things They Carried." Men and women of prior wars moreover mirrored the shared characteristics related to PTSD. In days of old, it was named "Shell Shock" and "Battle Fatigue." Because of studies directed by medical research organizations, e.g., The National Institute of Health (NIMH) we know and

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can produce emotional responses caused by the trauma endured during combat operations. It does not have to emerge immediately, but can actually happen weeks, months, or even years after the traumatic event. PTSD was often referred to as “combat fatigue” or “shell shock” until 1980 when it was given the name post-traumatic stress disorder. According to

(Rosenthal, J. Z., Grosswald, S., Ross, R., & Rosenthal, N. 2011) Veterans presenting with symptoms of PTSD will often engage in behaviors which can be dangerous for themselves, their families and socity. Lack of effective treatment can place the veteran at increased risk for drug and alcohol abuse or dependence, suicide ideations or attemps, and bouts violence toward others. (National Center for PTSD, 2010) PTSD can occur anytime anytime one has have been through the experience of a traumatic event. PTSD has been referred to by many names in past years such as post-combat disorders, shell shock, post-traumatic stress disorder, disordered or heavy heart, and war neurosis. In DSM-I PTSD was referred to as ‘‘gross stress reaction’’ this was the name of the diagnoises given to those individuals who had suffered combat exposure, and their minds had become psychologically altered. It was very helpful to have a name to the sympotms of military or civilian individual that had been exposed to combat exposure, ex-prisoners of war, and rape victims. This term had also been helpful in diagnosing Nazi Holocaust

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may develop after experiencing or seeing a traumatic, brutal, or life-threatening happening. World War Two was a long and violent war, for the young men drafted it was nothing short of hell. Soldiers faced the hard reality of fighting on the front line; not only did war end lives and leave physical scars, but also eternal physiological impacts. Trauma from constant

PTSD is considered one of the newest diagnoses, but the notion has been around for years. The APA defines this disorder “as an anxiety (emotional) disorder which stems from a particular incident evoking significant stress (Chu, 2011).According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat (Wilson & Keane, 2004). The history of this disorder is usually centered on wars that have occurred over the years which had left many combat veterans tormented by the events that happened. Although PTSD was first publicly revealed in its connection with military war veterans, it also was recognized in victims that suffered from rape, robbery, torture, captives, wrecks/crashes (plane, car, boat, or any other type of vehicle involved), and natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes). These events are not the normal experiences that are exposed to the human race (serious illness, divorce, and other downfalls of life) which most people were capable with coping with the stressors that came about from such ordinary events (Chu, 2011). Every one that is exposed to some type of traumatic event or events doesn’t develop PTSD which is one of the reasons it was confronted with doubt and dismissal from the general community. Before PTSD was accredited, many people were under the impression that those who were affected (showing the symptoms of PTSD)

Our soldiers not only risked life and limb for our country while serving in the Vietnam War, but they continue to suffer immensely. Americans as well as Vietnamese troops and civilians suffered great losses when it comes to casualties. Witnessing first-hand the pain and death of strangers and allies, isn’t something one is likely to forget. Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been one of the many repercussions of witnessing these gruesome events (Mental Health America). Veterans, their families, and the government have come together in combat in attempts to address the detrimental effects of PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress were documented as early as the Civil War., yet only did it during World War I and II become known, it was known as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue”. Although they didn’t quite understand it yet, it was thought that shrapnel entered the brain during battle explosions and caused small brain hemorrhages. When symptoms occurred in war veterans who had not been exposed to explosions, it was then often viewed as a character flaw. In the 1970s, during and after the Vietnam War, post-traumatic stress received more serious research and documentation. In 1989, the National Center for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder was established in the U.S. About 5 percent of men and 10 percent of women in the United States have PTSD. In women, the

Post-traumatic stress disorder is commonly known by the acronym PTSD, can be caused by witnessing a terrifying and usually life-threatening event. It has also been previously known as “shell shock” or “battle syndrome” which was directly related to the onset due to person’s who have been in combat warfare. A more in-depth explanation can be explained as exposure to one or more traumatic events such as major stress, sexual assault, death of a loved one, warfare, natural disasters or other threats on a person’s life. Posttraumatic stress disorder can also not only affect the individual but the person’s family and friends. An example where it would be someone other than the directly affected individual would be emergency and first responder worker’s family or friends. Posttraumatic stress disorder can affect

While PTSD was not yet defined it was clear that these symptoms were caused because of the disturbing things that had been seen. With no treatments available and a stigma that the effected persons were cowards or scared soldiers were often sent home with no supervision. During World War I physicians began calling it “shell shock” or “combat fatigue”, they believed that concussions caused by the impact of shells disrupting the brain caused the symptoms. Treatments included hospitalization and electric shock therapy. By World War II medical personnel noticed that soldiers that were engaged in longer more intense fighting had much higher levels or psychiatric disturbances and started using the term battle fatigue or combat exhaustion. Soldiers were being labeled as fearful and lacking in discipline and PTSD was still not fully recognized as a disorder, at this time treatment included barbiturates.

Historical records document this phenomenon as far back as the Civil War, but the awareness of its severity had not yet been researched. One uninformed concept was the belief in “shell shock.” Shell shock was thought to be an injury to the brain caused by the pressure of a shell exploding while to close. It was often referred to as cowardice and if a person showed symptoms longer than an expected period of time, those suffering could be prosecuted. It wasn’t until other soldiers who hadn't been in combat areas reported similar symptoms that it started to be perceived as a “war neurosis.” In World War II the shell-shock diagnosis was replaced with Combat Stress Reaction (CSR), also known as battle fatigue. CSR was treated by using the "PIE" (Proximity, Immediacy, Expectancy) principles. Only after passing a mental exam were soldiers allowed to return to combat. Although there were some critics and disbelievers, awareness slowly began to

In Erin Finley’s “Clinical Histories: From Soldier’s Heart to PTSD” she talks about shell shock or now we know it as post traumatic disorder which in the late 1914 British physicians in france discovered from patients. The patients showed odd symptoms like they were unable to see, hear or taste even though they were not injured, which later the physicians figured that it was combat stress nothing else. Shell shock had more to do with emotional shock than physical shock. The ones that suffer shell shock were thought to be malingering, which is exaggerating illness to escape duty. Those that are ill and wounded especially if his condition was caused by the enemy side then he will be considered coward and were shot. In 1918 Germans launched gas

Shell shock was the term that is used to describe the reaction of some of the soldiers to the trauma that they experienced during the war. Shell shock was a mystery to doctors at the time of the war and was assumed to be caused by the heavy artillery shells exploding, although the more common name for the psychological trauma that is used nowadays is PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is common among many soldiers and witnesses to intense happenings. Currently the only known treatment for PTSD is different types of psychotherapy and medications for depression and anxiety. However, soldiers in World War one didn't have such help.

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was seen as a condition where people are shocked into fear of facing situations. Over the years, it was labeled as “Soldier’s Heart” in the post Civil war era and “Shell Shock” in the World War I. In a situation of ‘fight-or-flight’ an individual is triggered to escape from danger, however in PTSD this reaction is reversed in which case the individual feels a constant threat of danger even when there is no danger present.The person diagnosed with PTSD can be anyone from a child to an adult. Many causes of this disorder include traumatic events, knowing someone who is in danger, genetic factors, and more. Symptoms include