Seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder

Seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
El Paso Times - El Paso,TX,USA


Seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
Dr. Robert L. Anders / Special to the Times
Article Launched: 11/10/2008 12:00:00 AM MST


EL PASO -- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received a significant amount of attention as a result of recent reports outlining the increasing number of men and women returning from war zones with PTSD.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder associated with a dramatic event in which the person experiences the threat of death or serious injury.

In spring 2007, the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research reported that of the 1.64 million military service members deployed to war zones, 14 percent have screened positive for PTSD and another 14 percent for major depression.

However, the disorder is not limited to soldiers in war zones. In the United States, the most common cause for PTSD exposure is automobile accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 2.5 million people are injured in automobile accidents annually. It is estimated that about 20 percent of those in automobile accidents suffer from the disorder.

PTSD is a biological disorder which can be manifested from exposure to excessive levels of stress. Basically, the body's stress response system is overloaded.

Symptoms of PTSD include insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks of the traumatic event, startling easily, avoiding a situation that reminds the individual of the traumatic episode, difficulty in concentrating, emotional withdrawal, aggression and irritability.

According to a recent study by the Geisinger Health Systems, Vietnam veterans with a history of PTSD had a 50 percent chance of dying from heart disease in their 50s compared to those veterans without the disorder. Many individuals with PTSD delay treatment and thus may manage their symptoms with drugs and/or alcohol.
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