Study says Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment

In keeping with the mission of Wounded Times Blog, providing information, I am posting this but I do not agree with this at all. After reading it, there are too many other reports in disagreement to this study. I'm living proof of some of them. A lifetime of exposure to traumatic events did not cause PTSD in me, but that is not the reason I doubt this report.

One of my brothers was in mental health and worked with inner city youth trying to get them what they needed so that they would find reason to continue with their education. Before he passed away, we argued over the cause of PTSD. He understood how kids growing up surrounded by violence would end up with PTSD but could not understand how his own brother-in-law did from Vietnam. The thing with PTSD is that it is so complicated that no matter what answer researchers are looking for, that's what they'll find with PTSD.

It comes from an outside force and is caused by traumatic events. That is the only way to get PTSD but if they look for any mental illness, they will find symptoms of it even though it came after traumatic events. There are some people with mental illness also exposed to traumatic events just as there are some using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate but are also dealing with the addiction itself.

That's my opinion but here is what this article said.

Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 3, 2009
Childhood adversity and trauma during adulthood appear to predispose individuals to post-traumatic stress disorders.

Researchers found the combination of insults were more predictive of PTSD than exposure to only one type of disturbance.

Furthermore, the risk was additionally accentuated among individuals with a certain genetic mutation.

The report is found in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

Although 40 percent to 70 percent of Americans have experienced traumatic events, only about 8 percent develop PTSD during their lifetimes, according to background information in the article.

PTSD is a complex anxiety disorder that involves re-experiencing, avoidance and increased arousal following exposure to a life-threatening event.
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Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment