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FYI: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

By Christine Lagorio

April 17, 2008 / 4:32 PM EDT / CBS

A staggering percentage of U.S. servicemembers is suffering from major depression or post-traumatic stress: One in five. That's according to a new study by the Rand Corp., which looked at the symptoms American troops said they showed after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Only about half of them have sought treatment. The recently completed survey showed 18.5 percent - or 300,000 people - said they have symptoms of depression or PTSD, the researchers said. Nineteen percent - or 320,000 - suffered head injuries ranging from mild concussions to penetrating head wounds.

Read on to find out more about PTSD, veteran mental health and suicide warning signs.

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

According to the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, "PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening."
Those who have experienced a life-threatening event can develop PTSD. These can include:
Combat or military exposure
Child sexual or physical abuse
Terrorist attacks
Sexual or physical assault
Serious accidents, such as a car wreck.
Natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake.
For those who have PTSD, there are generally four types of symptoms:
Reliving the event
Avoiding situations that remind you of the event
Feeling numb
Feeling keyed up -- on alert and on the lookout for danger
From the NIMH Web site: "PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes."
The National Center for PTSD offers this information in a tipsheet, and notes: "after the event, you may feel scared, confused, and angry. If these feelings don't go away or they get worse, you may have PTSD. These symptoms may disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities."

What Do People With PTSD Suffer From?

Victims of PTSD may often re-live the experience that triggered their anxiety through flashbacks or nightmares. They may have difficulty sleeping, feel detached or saddened. Symptoms can significantly impair the person's daily life.

How Is PTSD Treated?

PTSD is treated by a variety of forms of psychotherapy and medication. Some treatments appear promising, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and exposure therapy, according to the National Center for PTSD. Alternative therapies, such as virtual reality, have also shown promise. Studies have also shown that medications help ease associated symptoms of depression and anxiety and help with sleep.

How to Spot Suicide Warning Signs

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides the following warning signs.
Talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
Trying to get pills, guns, or other ways to harm oneself
Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
Hopelessness
Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
Acting in a reckless or risky way
Feeling trapped, like there's no way out
Saying or feeling there's no reason for living
For more on mental health services at the Dept of Veterans Affairs, click here or call the VA's suicide hotline at 800.273.TALK (8255).

Suicide Signs Unique to Vets

Experts on suicide prevention say for veterans there are some particular signs to watch for.
Calling old friends, particularly military friends, to say goodbye
Cleaning a weapon that they may have as a souvenir
Visits to graveyards
Obsessed with news coverage of the war, the military channel
Wearing their uniform or part of their uniform, boots, etc
Talking about how honorable it is to be a soldier
Sleeping more (sometimes the decision to commit suicide brings a sense of peace of mind, and they sleep more to withdraw)
Becoming overprotective of children
Standing guard of the house, perhaps while everyone is asleep staying up to "watch over" the house, obsessively locking doors, windows
If they are on medication, stopping medication and/or hording medication
Hording alcohol -- not necessarily hard alcohol, could be wine
Spending spree, buying gifts for family members and friends "to remember by"
Defensive speech "you wouldn't understand," etc.
Stop making eye contact or speaking with others
For a wallet-size card titled "What to do you if you think someone is having suicidal thoughts," click here.

Where to Get Help

Hotline for Veterans
Veterans who need help immediate counseling should call the hotline run by Veterans Affairs professionals at 1-800-273-TALK and press 1 identifying themselves as military veterans. Staff members are specially trained to take calls from military veterans and its staffed 24 hours a day, everyday. While all operators are trained to help veterans, some are also former military.
Clinical Care
To find the closest Dept of Veterans Affairs facility to you that has mental health professionals, go to this Web site and type in your zip code.
Veterans Affairs Health Benefits
Read more about what benefits are available to veterans.
To find out more about what kind of services returning service members qualify for, check out this summary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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