ppt. for BrianWriter

1

Shuai Wang

EN140

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Introduction

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental anxiety that an individual experiences after he or she has recovered from trauma in an extreme condition such as death. Research shows that over the past few decades many people in Ft Bragg, North Carolina have engaging in suicide as a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Statistics shows that, victims of suicide in Ft Bragg as a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are mainly war combatants or those soldiers who returned back from war mission in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan (Finkel.et.al. 960)

As a matter of fact, a study conducted by the Guardian Angels show that most of these soldiers suffered from a lot of mental anxiety known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and most of them feel guilty from the death experiences that they witnessed in the course of the war thus, they resort to suicide as a way to escape from this mental stress that they are undergoing. The report shows that, the increasing number of those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Ft, Bragg has been influenced by the failure of the government to provide funds and necessary psychological help to these soldiers.

History of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Although Post Traumatic Stress Disorder became common in the society during the last quarter of 20th century (1980s and 1990s), history shows that this disease owes its roots to the time of ancient civilization in several parts of the world. It is evident from historical records that around 4500 years ago Greek, Roman and Egyptian men met together in the battle field as men of antiquity feared no death. However, those who survived these brutal wars ended up suffering from a lot of psychological stress and they ended up committing suicide.

According to the psychologists world war one and world war 2 created a lot of psychological stress and this forced some of these psychologists to come up with stress theories for instance Sigmund Freud came up with the “ War neurosis” which stated that there was an inner conflict between peace ego and war ego of the surviving soldiers. It was during the period of cold war especially in 1980s when clinical experts and psychologists handling patients who were suffering from this illness when they realized that most of their clients were soldiers returning from several wars across the globe.

In America the disorder was looked down upon and victims who showed symptoms of the disorder were ignored. However, it was after the end of Vietnam war when America recognized extreme effects of the disorder on soldiers. Most of these victims who came back home from the war were ignored by the society the increasing number of soldiers committing suicide in Ft, Bragg forced the government and other organizations to do a thorough research on post Traumatic Stress Disorder on war combants who came back home.

Soldiers who returned from Afghanistan and Iraq wars forced the government to accept that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a legitimate disease just like any other diseases and victims deserve a lot of care in terms of psychological counseling and financial aid. Most of these soldiers in Ft Bragg got involved in fighting’s, shooting any body who they came across, attacking people without apparent reason and above all some took suicide. Most of these soldiers felt that they were stigmatized and stereotyped as murderers and some of them ended up divorcing with their families. These effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Ft Bragg and other parts of America have been felt by many families whose sons and daughters felt victims of the disorder and the public outcry forced American government and other non governmental organization to conduct a research on the causes, effects, and some of the potential remedies of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among many victims especially soldiers (Lande, 2011).

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Situation at Fort Bragg

A study conducted by a team of nurses, psychologists, clinical experts, government officials and non-government personnel shows that, among a group of war solders in America 20% suffer from one form of Post Traumatic Stress disorder. In addition to that, the report from the research conducted shows that out of these 20% only half of them half been attended medically.

In Ft Bragg, a National Centre for Telehealth and technology has been established to be used as a research centre for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder victims. According to the study conducted in this centre, it is worth using virtual reality therapy when dealing with victims of this disorder. The study shows that, soldiers have the ability to disconnect themselves from some of the vents such as death for them to continue with their mission as well as for them to enjoy their lives. Therefore, in virtual therapy combatants are moved into a safer environment where they will be put back in the emotional connection which will ensure that they will totally recover from the trauma that will have led to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the future.

From this survey conducted in Ft Bragg, North Carolina virtual therapy should be used when it comes to treatment of soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, when it comes to civilians’ traditional therapy is appropriate for treatment of victims of Post Traumatic stress Disorder. Indeed, professionals from Ft Bragg are working together with 350 fort Bragg soldiers department with an aim of proving that virtual therapy is the only option that can be used in the treatment of soldiers who show signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in war during his life duty.

Programs instituted for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder victims

By and large, the governments in collaboration with clinical experts and psychologists have pit in place some strategies and programs that will help PTSD victims to get healed totally. As earlier on examined, the government of North Carolina is working with psychologists who use virtual therapy min handling soldiers showing some signs of this mental anxiety. In addition to this, professionals use telemedicine programs when handling patients whose conditions are extreme

Secondly, another program instituted is the use of pharmacologic. This involves injection of some of the drugs which have been proved to be able to suppress the worsening condition among patients suffering from PTSD condition in America especially in Ft Bragg, North Carolina. Drugs used in this case include prazosin which works to reduce and eventually alleviate PTSD symptoms. Research shows that, 90% of the medical practioners use CAM drugs for the treatment of victims of this disorder in America.

That aside, new programs have been created by the military department to deal with cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among soldiers, for example high ranking members of the military hold talks with the family members of the soldiers suffering from PTSD. They help them to realize that, PTSD is not emotional but physical thus enabling family members to accept and accommodate their family members who are PTSD victims (Nieves, 175)

Secondly, there is a new tendency whereby the culture of military personnel is, being changed. Initially, the training and living conditions were hard in such a way that military personnel were subject in emotional and psychological stress. Nowadays this is not the case, servicemen work is no longer exposed to stressful training and prolonged wartime stresses. This has enabled them to have enough time with their families thus enabling them to live a life free of emotional and psychological stress.

Success in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Treatment of PTSD has been successful in various ways for instance the construction of a second medical centre in VA that is dedicated to treatment and rehabilitation of PTSD patients is indeed a great achievement to the government when it comes to the fight against PTSD. This new facility is well equipped and it is indeed capable of handling the increasing number of PTSD victims in America.

Secondly, the government has embraced new technology when it comes to the war against Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in US. This has been achieved through the launch of a new website that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder patients are offered confidential guidance and counseling services by professionals who have a lot of knowledge about the disorder. Undoubtedly, this is a great achievement especially for patients who are cautious with their identity and they don’t want to be known by other members in the society. To this effect, the use of this website has protected patients from being victimized through stereotypes by other members in the society.

Thirdly, outpatient programs have been implemented in various hospitals where patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are closely monitored by clinical personnel and nurses. Such patients are given adequate medical care by the hospital staff that handles him or her. Furthermore, psychologists provide these patients with the necessary virtual and traditional therapy thus enabling them to fully recover from the mental anxiety or disorder that they are suffering from after getting involved in a traumatizing event such as death. To this effect, such patients who receive outpatient medical care from the hospital end up recovering fully from this disturbing disorder whose events are extreme in most cases (Maze, 2014).

From studies conducted before any treatment, PTSD patient is fully assessed where the psychologist or the clinical expert critically assess all the symptoms that the patient is showing. In this case a mental specialist will be involved in the entire assessment process and some of these specialist include psychiatrist, community nurse and a psychologist whose role are to try as much as possible to find the type of the PTSD that the patient is suffering from. Thereafter, these specialists recommend suitable treatment for the patient following the symptoms that he or she has shown (Cukor, Judith. et al 720)

Patients who have shown PTSD symptoms and signs for a period of less than a month are categorized to be having mild symptoms and they are subjected to watchful waiting. During this stage of treatment, patients are closely monitored and checked for a number of days to determine their progress whether they are getting well or their condition is getting worse. If the condition gets worse then the patient will undergo psychotherapy. This will involve emotional treatment of mental disorders such as anxiety, obsessive compulsiveness and depression in the patient (Gill)

Basically, two therapies have been identified and they proved to be working successfully to PTSD patients. One of these therapies is cognitive behavioral therapy which is mainly used to change the way PTSD patient acts and thinks. Among the treatments used in this therapy is that the therapists insists that the patient reflects his or her memories deeply thus helping the patient to identify those thoughts which are beneficial and those which have negative influence in his or her mind (Libby, 2014), Secondly the patient is involved in a process whereby he or she is encouraged to remind him or hers all the events that he or she finds to be disturbing him or her. By doing so, the patient will eventually gets all the traumatic events out of his or her mind after the therapy (Scurfield)

Secondly is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy whereby the therapists moves his or her fingers from one side to another. This is followed by the patients’ process of moving his or her eyes on the direction that the therapist takes hi or her fingers and in the process the patient is allowed to recall the events that caused a lot of trauma in his life. Studies show that, this therapy has been successful, as it helps the brain of the patient to flashback. In addition to this, the therapy enables the mind to processes all those bad memories in his or her brain thus enabling him or her to forget all the se stressful events (Hermes.et.al 171).

Lastly various medications are used across the world for the treatment of PTSD problem. Some of these medications include the use of antidepressants especially among adults. Most of these medications are used after a recommendation from a clinical expert who knows the side effects of the use of such drug. Most of these drugs a re used to suppress causes of depression such as anxiety, depression and to enhance by this sleep which is caused by this disorder (Ritchie 235).

Conclusion

It is quite evident that PTSD patients have been stigmatized in the society for a very long period of time. Nevertheless, it is evident that this disorder is treatable and it is the responsibility of the government and all the stakeholders to take this preventive measure.

Works cited

Burdon, Sutker. “Pilot program of treatment for PTSD” The American journal of psychiatry. 148. 9 (1991): web 6 Mar, 2014.

Cukor, Judith. et al. “ Emerging Treatments for PTSD.” Journal of Clinical Psychology. 29.8 (2009): 715-726. Web. 1 march, 2014.

Finkel, Alan., Yerry Juanita, Scher, Ann., and Choi Young. “Headaches in Soldiers with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Finding and Phenomenologic Descriptions.” Headache. 52. 6 (2012): 957-965. Web. 29 Jan, 2014.

Gill, Robin. “PTSD Treatment Program” Global News. 34. 13 (2006): Web. 6 Mar, 2014.

Hermes, Eric., Ilan Harpaz-Rotem and Robert, Rosenheck. “Diffusion of Prazosin Treatment for PTSD.” The American Journal of Psychiatry. 171. 1 (2014): 117. Web. 2 Mar, 2014.

Lande, Gregory, et al. “Characteristics and Effectiveness of an Intensive Military Outpatient Treatment Program for PTSD” Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. 20. 5 (2011): 530-538. Web. 6 Mar, 2014.

Libby, Daniel., Corey, Elizabeth and Rani, Desai. “Complementary and alternative medicine in VA specialized PTSD treatment programs” Marine Corps. 34. 2 (2010): Web. 6 Mar, 2014.

Maze, Rick. “Panel finds PTSD Treatment is Improving Unevenly: 1.” Chicago Tribune 4 oct. 2006: 26. Web. 28 feb, 2014.

Nieves, Edwin J., Joseph, Candelario., Delmar, Short and Gregory Briscoe. “Telemental Health for our Soldiers: A Brief Review and a New Pilot Program.” Military Medicine. 174. 12 (2009): xxi. Web. 3 Mar, 2014.

Ritchie, Elspeth C. “Acupunture for the Treatment of PTSD.” Psychiatric Annals. 43. 5 (2013): 235. Web. 2 Mar, 2014.

Scurfield, Raymond M.. War trauma and its wake: expanding the circle of healing. New York, NY: Routledge, 2013. Print.

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