Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as the Most Common Psychological Injury - Essay Example

PTSD Research Paper Introduction In the recent years, the number of service members and veterans requiring medical attention has increased. This is usually due to the rate in which America has engaged in wars around the world. This happened as the country seeks to ensure peace in the world. However, there have been several challenges to those who seek mental health care. They range from poor diagnosis, long waiting for mental care, and lack of accessibility. This paper seeks to focus on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, effects, and challenges that veterans go through as they seek attention on PTSD. PTSD Post Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychological injuries diagnosed in most veterans. This disorder is a psychological condition that usually occurs after an extremely traumatic or life threatening event.1 The most common symptoms include persistent recollections of the trauma, heightened alertness, nightmares, lack of sleep, and irritability. At the beginning of the 20th century, doctor started identifying psychological conditions among the veterans from World War I. At the time, the condition was not known as PTSD but “shell shock”.2 Posttraumatic stress disorder is a treatable condition. This involves enlisting of a therapist where the patient learns to think about the trauma without experiencing any form of stress. It involves meditating about the trauma or utilizing virtual reality technology.3 PTSD and Challenges There are stigmas associated with psychological injuries. This is the most common thing to veterans seeking mental health care especially those from Iraq and Afghanistan. For example, over 50 percent of soldiers from marines in Iraq who tested positive for psychological problems are worried of being perceived as weak by their fellow workmates.4 Therefore, it is evident that military culture plays a significant role to the realization of such stigma. As a result, some of the soldiers are forced to avoid such treatment. Such fears compound the soldier’s problem and hence those who need counseling will rarely seek for it. The department of Defense has taken an initiative of ensuring the mental health treatment does not act as an impediment to career advancement within the military. DOD agreed to remove the question that sought to know whether a soldier had sought mental care in the past seven years. DOD noted that, “Surveys showed that soldiers felt if they answered ‘yes’ to the question, getting a position in the military would not be possible.”5 After a long service in the Vietnam War, over 31 percent of veteran soldiers were noted by National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study to be suffering from PTSD.6 In fact, it is thought that the effects of psychological disorders inflicted on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are more as compared to Vietnam veterans. The veterans lack immediate medical attention. Veterans are required to document specific events that led to PTSD.7 This form of documentation was difficult to proof.8 However, there have been few changes to such rules. In fact, president Obama in his weekly address to the nation noted, “I don’t think our troops on the battle field should have to take notes to keep for a claims application.”9 Even after the change of such rules, veteran advocates still complain arguing that there are still impediments to veterans seeking health care or disability compensation for PTSD.10 Moreover, advocates are not comfortable with the determination on whether a veteran disorder is tied to service. They are against the provision requiring only a physician or psychologist working for the Department of Veteran affairs.11 They advocate the recruit of private clinicians in the process of making a determination. On the other hand, the department officials argue that the provision is there to maintain consistency in examinations. They believe that mental health clinicians attached to the departments have experience required to deal with PTSD.12 They argue that they are not only able to detect PTSD, but also they are able to get rid of imposters.13 However, veterans argue that there is clear examination when carried out by private clinicians as compared to those who serve in the departments. Indeed, many clinicians have had the opportunity to handle veterans hence more conversant with challenges facing the veterans. Advocates have called for the government to accept private clinician’s assertion that the disorders are related to service.14 This will ensure that the veterans are eligible for the benefits. Such benefit will include free care in the health system and monthly disability checks. Such benefits may range from $2,700, depending on the severity of the disability.15 Paul Sullivan notes that federal clinicians and claims adjudicators were often adversarial in dealing with veterans seeking benefits.16This caused many veterans to seek the service of private clinicians. He further notes, “V.A. needs to train its examination staff so that they could become aware that PTSD is associated to operation.”17 Another problem faced by the veterans is having to wait for a long time without getting the necessary mental care. A group leading mental health charities has indicated that those stuck on the long NHS waiting lists for psychological attention are being damaged.18 This can probably lead to mental health worsening, relationship breakdown, giving up job, and even taking time off from work.19 The guidelines laid down by National clinical guideline recommend psychological treatments to be made available on the NHS.20 However, such therapies are difficult to access, and patients are required to wait for a long time often more than six months.21 Secondly, there is a problem of misdiagnosis. In fact, at the height of Iraq war, the army routinely dismissed hundreds of soldiers for having a personality disorder.22 Yet, the cause of the soldier’s problem was traumatic stresses of war as suggested by the data.23 Those who did not engage in direct combat role have been denied mental health care. This happens even after being vulnerable as they play a supportive role in such countries. A good example is a case of Serena Hayden who filed a claim for service related PTSD, but was denied.24 As military public affairs in Iraq, her convoys were prone to roadside bombs, and she even witnessed war horrors, in hospitals and mortuaries.25 Conclusion Post Traumatic Stress disorders have serious implication on the individual life. This is common in veterans who have served the country in various fields. The effect of PTSD needs to be controlled to avoid high cost of medical attention required by veterans in future. It is clear that if PTSDs are left untreated, there are various problems that may arise such as increases in family problems, drug abuse, and suicide amongst others. There also needs to be improved access to trained mental health professionals. Bibliography Dao, James. “Groups Find Trauma Rule for Veterans Lacking.” Nytimes. July 12,2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/us/13vets.html?_r=1 Emily, Wooster. “Long Waiting Times for Psychological Therapy harmful, Says Mental Health Report.” Mind.org. July 24, 2008.” http://www.mind.org.uk/news/273_long_waiting_times_for_psychological_therapies_harmful_says_mental_health_report Williamson, Vanessa and Erin Mulhall. “Psychological and Neurological injuries Confront a New Generation of Veterans.” Iava.org. January 2009. http://iava.org/files/IAVA_invisible_wounds_0.pdf Jeremy, Schwartz. “More Vets May Get Treatment for PTSD” Statesman. July 13, 2010. http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/more-vets-may-get-treatment-for-ptsd-801048.html?printArticle=y “Soldiers with PTSD Dismissed, Told they have ‘Personality Disorder.” Rawstory.com. August 15, 2010. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/08/soldiers-ptsd-personality-disorder/ Read More

The veterans lack immediate medical attention. Veterans are required to document specific events that led to PTSD.7 This form of documentation was difficult to proof.8 However, there have been few changes to such rules. In fact, president Obama in his weekly address to the nation noted, “I don’t think our troops on the battle field should have to take notes to keep for a claims application.”9 Even after the change of such rules, veteran advocates still complain arguing that there are still impediments to veterans seeking health care or disability compensation for PTSD.

10 Moreover, advocates are not comfortable with the determination on whether a veteran disorder is tied to service. They are against the provision requiring only a physician or psychologist working for the Department of Veteran affairs.11 They advocate the recruit of private clinicians in the process of making a determination. On the other hand, the department officials argue that the provision is there to maintain consistency in examinations. They believe that mental health clinicians attached to the departments have experience required to deal with PTSD.

12 They argue that they are not only able to detect PTSD, but also they are able to get rid of imposters.13 However, veterans argue that there is clear examination when carried out by private clinicians as compared to those who serve in the departments. Indeed, many clinicians have had the opportunity to handle veterans hence more conversant with challenges facing the veterans. Advocates have called for the government to accept private clinician’s assertion that the disorders are related to service.

14 This will ensure that the veterans are eligible for the benefits. Such benefit will include free care in the health system and monthly disability checks. Such benefits may range from $2,700, depending on the severity of the disability.15 Paul Sullivan notes that federal clinicians and claims adjudicators were often adversarial in dealing with veterans seeking benefits.16This caused many veterans to seek the service of private clinicians. He further notes, “V.A. needs to train its examination staff so that they could become aware that PTSD is associated to operation.

”17 Another problem faced by the veterans is having to wait for a long time without getting the necessary mental care. A group leading mental health charities has indicated that those stuck on the long NHS waiting lists for psychological attention are being damaged.18 This can probably lead to mental health worsening, relationship breakdown, giving up job, and even taking time off from work.19 The guidelines laid down by National clinical guideline recommend psychological treatments to be made available on the NHS.

20 However, such therapies are difficult to access, and patients are required to wait for a long time often more than six months.21 Secondly, there is a problem of misdiagnosis. In fact, at the height of Iraq war, the army routinely dismissed hundreds of soldiers for having a personality disorder.22 Yet, the cause of the soldier’s problem was traumatic stresses of war as suggested by the data.23 Those who did not engage in direct combat role have been denied mental health care. This happens even after being vulnerable as they play a supportive role in such countries.

A good example is a case of Serena Hayden who filed a claim for service related PTSD, but was denied.24 As military public affairs in Iraq, her convoys were prone to roadside bombs, and she even witnessed war horrors, in hospitals and mortuaries.25 Conclusion Post Traumatic Stress disorders have serious implication on the individual life. This is common in veterans who have served the country in various fields. The effect of PTSD needs to be controlled to avoid high cost of medical attention required by veterans in future.

It is clear that if PTSDs are left untreated, there are various problems that may arise such as increases in family problems, drug abuse, and suicide amongst others.

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