An Epidemic of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

A veteran dies by suicide every 80 minutes

228,875: number of U.S. troops who’ve served in either Iraq or Afghanistan with PTSD

7: percent of American population who are vets

But they account for 20 percent of suicides in America

Since 2001:

1.5 million new vets

50,409 wounded in action

Most common diagnosis of the 1.5 million vets

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases: 476,763

Mental disorder: 444,551 (239,174 with diagnosed PTSD)

Nervous system or sense organ diseases: 378,428

834,467: number of vets needing VA health care

55 percent of vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan sought veteran’s health care.

$600 million: approximate amount VA spent on treating PTSD in 2013

50,000 new veterans were diagnosed with PTSD during 2012,

In the last three months of 2012, the national average of new military PTSD cases reached 184 per day.

Nearly 20 %: of female Iraq, Afghanistan female vets have PTSD

80: approximate number of names for the condition (now called PTSD) since ancient times

Below is a PTSD timeline

In the Bible, King Saul committed atrocities, flew into violent rages. “The spirit of God left him, and an evil spirit sent by the Lord tormented him.” (Samuel 16:14).

1678: Swiss Physicians identify ‘Nostalgia’ (melancholy, disturbed sleep or insomnia, anxiety, cardiac palpitations)

1861-1865: U.S. military physicians document stresses of Civil War soldiers

1905: ‘Battle shock’ is regarded as a legitimate medical condition by the Russian Army

1917-1919: Distress of soldiers attributed to ‘shell shock’ during WWI

1939-1945: Terminology changes to ‘combat exhaustion’ during WWII

1969: Concept: ‘Vietnam combat reaction’

1980: PTSD by name is diagnosed.

2008: Popular media. Grey’s Anatomy introduces a character with combat-related PTSD

Factors that can increase the likelihood of PTSD:

The intensity of the trauma

Being hurt or losing a friend (combat buddy)

Being physically close to the traumatic event

Feeling you were not in control

Having a lack of support after the event

Traumatic experiences in the military include:

Seeing dead bodies

Sexual harassment

Being shot at

Loneliness

Killing people

Being ambushed

Worrying about family

Getting hit by mortar fire

PTSD symptoms

Some common symptoms of PTSD include:

Nightmares, Flashbacks, Memory and concentration problems, Hyperarousal, Hypervigilance, Intrusive memories, Avoidance, Abnormal startle responses and Feeling worse when reminded of trauma.

Without treatment, PTSD can lead to:

Alcohol and drug abuse

Reliving terror

Heart attacks

Depression

Dementia

Stroke

Suicide

But combat trauma is not the only cause of PTSD:

Abuse

Mental

Physical

Sexual

Verbal (i.e., sexual and/or violent content)

Catastrophe

Harmful and fatal accidents

Natural disasters

Terrorism

Violent attack

Animal attack

Assault

Battery and domestic violence

Rape

War, battle, and combat

Death

Explosion

Gunfire

The main treatments for people with PTSD are:

Psychotherapy (“talk” therapy),

Medications

Or both

Veterans: Are you are in crisis? Your options:

Call 911

Go to the nearest Emergency Room

Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1 (text 838255)

Sources