What´s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Essay

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a relatively new diagnosis that was associated with survivors of war when it was first introduced. Its diagnosis was met largely with skepticism and dismissal by the public of the validity of the illness. PTSD was only widely accepted when it was included as a diagnosis in 1980 in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) of the American Psychiatric Association. PTSD is a complex mental disorder that develops in response to exposure to a severe traumatic event that stems a cluster of symptoms. Being afflicted with the disorder is debilitating, disrupting an individual’s ability to function and perform the most basic tasks.

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PTSD among combat veterans can be very complex for it has many different variables that can play a part in the severity and duration. The different variables can be found in prewar, warzone, and

At least 50% of all adults and children are exposed to a psychologically traumatic event (such as a life-threatening assault or accident, humanmade or natural disaster, or war). As many as 67% of trauma survivors experience lasting psychosocial impairment, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); panic, phobic, or generalized anxiety disorders; depression; or substance abuse.(Van der Kolk, et al, 1994) Symptoms of PTSD include persistent involuntary re-experiencing of traumatic distress, emotional numbing and detachment from other people, and hyperarousal (irritability, insomnia, fearfulness, nervous agitation). PTSD is linked to structural neurochemical changes in the central nervous system which may have a direct

The majority of Vietnam veterans experienced delayed or chronic PTSD which we know now, can remain dormant for years until symptoms are triggered. According to the Vietnam Veterans’ Readjustment Study, approximately 30.9% of men and 26.9% of women soldiers in Vietnam had PTSD at some point in their lives. (P8) Lifting these requirements from the DSM-III allowed many more veterans to step forward; and with this new massive population of test subjects- scientists were able to research the dynamics, variables, and patterns of PTSD, through the advancements of neuroimaging and neuroscience. (P9) “There were many more cases of PTSD among Vietnam veterans than any other war.” (P5) A number estimated to be near 500,000. (P11)

When someone hears about Post Traumatic Stress disorder, they assume it only affects those in active duty or military veterans. However, it can affects those who have seen natural disasters, severe child abuse and horrible events. The national comorbidity survey replications did a survey on how many people in the US have PTSD they say, “(NCS-R), conducted between February 2001 and April 2003, comprised interviews of a nationally representative sample of 9,282 Americans aged 18 years and older. PTSD was assessed among 5,692 participants, using DSM-IV criteria. The NCS-R estimated the lifetime prevalence of PTSD among adult Americans to be 6.8% (1). Current past year PTSD prevalence was estimated at 3.5% (2).The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among men was 3.6% and among women was 9.7%.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition that can follow a traumatic incident (Emory). PTSD can stem from a variety of traumatic events, such as sexual assault, floods, being kidnapped, and major catastrophes like 9/11 (PTSD: A Growing Epidemic). A major symptom of PTSD is re-experiencing trauma by either distressing thoughts or memories, and sometimes by vivid flashbacks in the most severe cases. Other symptoms can include increased anxiety and paranoia, depression, or avoiding situations where flashbacks can be triggered. An estimated 5% of men and 10% of women experience some form of PTSD in their lives (Emory). However, in a smaller demographic, veterans, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have estimated

PTSD was first taken seriously when the Vietnam veterans returned from the war. Combat experience is the most commonly linked to this disorder. However, studies have shown that there are many different causes. These studies were applied to a wide variety of traumas that people have experienced in various horrific events. According to The National Institute of Mental Health, “about 4% of American adults ages 18-54 suffers from PTSD in a given year. These people have served in wars, have been raped or mugged, lived through natural disasters, terrorist attacks or car or plane crashes” (Mitchell). Anyone who experiences an unnerving situation is at risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is seen as more of an archaic disorder in the

()They struggle with getting jobs, talking to friends and family and in extreme cases commit suicide. Studies have also shown that those diagnosed with the most symptoms tend to seek the least amount of help. The lack of treatment can lead to an increase in the severity of their mental illness. TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) is similar to PTSD but occurs specifically from physical trauma to the brain. Car accidents, extreme sports injuries and concussions are the most common causes of this injury but combat veterans primarily get it from improvised explosive devices while deployed. TBI is different from PTSD because it affects the cognitive abilities of the brain as opposed to the psychological. This is especially hard for returning veterans because remembering specific memories and education become extremely hard to retain information. 25,111 service men were diagnosed with TBI in 2014 featuring symptoms such as amnesia, uncontrollable laughing or crying, severe mood changes, difficulty retaining information and making new

For many, PTSD is a big issue. Because of this, research has started to look at its causes. First to understand PTSD, one must examine the

Post-traumatic stress disorder, better known as PTSD, is steadily becoming a more relevant topic of conversation in our society today. Recently this disorder has received a lot of attention due to the conflicts our military personnel are currently engaged in around the world. Another event that brought PTSD to forefront were the tragedies of 9/11. PTSD is one of the rare disorders that are a direct result of an outside traumatic event. Make no mistake about it, PTSD might be a relatively newly diagnosed disorder, but it has been around for many years. Our military servicemen had reported these conditions for many years before, now we finally have a It is an unfortunate truth that many people in our society are involved in traumatic

Posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a form of mental and emotional stress that has been brought on by traumatic events that have taken place in a person’s life. PTSD comes with many kinds of effects some including high-risk behaviors, aggression and shame, sleep disturbances, and attachment(Barr, Kintzle, Sullivan, Castro, 2017; Martindale, Morissette, Rowland, Dolan, 2017; Haller, Norman, Angkaw, 2016; Renaud, 2008). These all are causes of behavioral effects from PTSD that do or may occur in veterans. PTSD can cause bad health risks, but it also has been tested and found that it can also cause bad and unsafe risk behaviors (Barr, Kintzle, Sullivan, Castro 2017). Sleep disturbances are

Although PTSD is not limited to solely service men and women, it can occur in children and civilians, who encounter tragic circumstances, such as those related to sexual trauma, physical assault, serious accidents and terrorist attacks, like the individuals who witnessed firsthand, the September 11th terrorist attack on the world trade center. In any case,

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 7.7 million American adults and can also occur during childhood. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that stems from a recent emotional threat such as a natural, disaster, war, and car accidents. PTSD usually occurs from an injury or coming close death. A person who has experienced a past traumatic event has a heightened chance of being diagnosed with PTSD after a current trauma. PTSD can also be determined by looking at one’s genes, different emotions, and current or past family setting. Normally, when a person without PTSD goes through a traumatic event the body releases stress hormones, which in time returns back to normal; However, a person with PTSD releases stress hormones that do not return