Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Can Be Managed

By Bassima Schbley, MSW, PhD, BSW Program Director, Assistant Professor, Washburn University

In World War I it was called “shell shock.” In World War II it was “combat fatigue.” Today it has a more sophisticated description: “posttraumatic stress disorder” or PTSD.

 “Shell shock” described the trauma experienced by soldiers exposed to the horrible conditions of trench warfare during the First World War. As they relived those horrors, they had a distant look in their eyes known as the “thousand mile stare.” In World War II, in an attempt to avert or at least control the onset of this condition, troops were rotated to less stressful posts every few weeks.

Much more is known about PTSD today, but several mistaken believes continue. It is incorrectly considered a character or personality issue. Or the afflicted individual creates the condition in order to get attention or compensation.

The reality is that people all over the world, regardless of culture or status, experience PTSD as a result of trauma. Real, debilitating, and often long-lasting, symptoms include problems falling or staying asleep, angry outbursts or irritability, problems concentrating, hyper alertness, and being easily startled.

According to the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD occurs in about 6%-11% of veterans of the Afghanistan war (Enduring Freedom) and in about 12%-20% of veterans of the Iraq war (Iraqi Freedom).

Recent research conducted by the United States Army suggests that stress and its related trauma alter the very structure of the human brain. The brain of a traumatized person secretes a lower than normal level of a chemical known as NPY, which reduces stress and controls adrenaline. The resulting chemical imbalance leaves traumatized individuals less able to cope with their immediate situation, as well as any future stresses.

To date, the best treatments for PTSD are training and education. People who undergo stress management training both before and immediately after trauma are much less likely to develop PTSD. For those who are affected, counseling and mild to moderate medication greatly reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.

The US Army has been vigilant in implementing treatment and has contracted with civilian mental health practitioners, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers to provide treatment.

For more information about PTSD, contact the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at 802-296-6300 or on the web at www.ncptsd.va.gov

Dr. Schbley’s background includes extensive research on women and oppression, children with posttraumatic stress disorder, prevention and treatment of elder abuse, and cultural diversity.