Thesis Statement! How PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) has long affected military men and women! who have experienced the disorder after being involved in combative warfare during war time] and what the military is doing to treat military veterans with PTSD? Abstract The paper will discuss how PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) has long affected] military men and women who have experienced the disorder after being involved in combative warfare during war time, The paper will discuss the true meaning of PTSD, in military terms, the! causes of it, how to prevent the disorder, and the treatment for PTSD. The research paper willl discuss the historical aspect of post-traumatic stress disorder first being identified and diagnosed by the military. ‘The research paper will discuss the main causes of PTSD among military men, and women, and how the disorder affects their family members, The paper will discuss how the} military has treated their personnel who suffer from PTSD and what the military is doing to| prevent it among their personnel in the future] This paper will demonstrate why the military and the general public needs take PTSD) more seriously whea our military men and women return home from the war front, It seetas that] the US military has not made many advancements when it comes to the care and treatment of] returning military men and women who suffer from PTSD. Tam very passionate about this issuel because I am married to a Vietnam Veteran who suifers from PTSD. This paper will demonstrate the causes and effects of PTSD and what more can be done to give our military vets the treatment and care they deserve and need concerning PTSD,Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder better known as PTSD, can be best described as a disorder that develops after e frightening and terrifying experience that involves physical harm to oneself or another individual. It also involves the threat of physical or bodily harm to oneself or} another individual close to you. Post-traumatic stress disorder, in military terms, can come about after one witnesses a harmful event that has caused serious bodily harm, bodily injury, or death toa loved one, close friend, or stranger. Post-traumatic stress disorder was first diagnosed inl military veterans, but anyone can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder! ‘The first recorded diagnose of post-traumatic stress disorder was by the Russian Army in| 1905 during their war with Japan, The Russian psychiatrists referred to Post-traumatic stress disorder, in 1905, as “Battle Shell Shock.” “Gabriel states that Russian attempts to diagnose and) treat battle shock represent the birth of military psychiatry. The Russians’ mejor contribution wag their recognition of the principle of proximity, or forward treatment. Although it’s believed by, most armies today that the Russians were right in treating psychiatric casualties close to the, front, with the goal of returning them to the fight, the recorded rate of those who retumed to battle suggests the method was not very suecessful, In actuality, less than 20 percent were able to return to the front.” www.vva.ors) During the major wars in the 20" Century, militaries across the world felt that it was important to treat military men right away, and send them right back into combat, During World War IL, the US military started to realize that they were losing about 37.5% of their military men| due to serious psychiatric illnesses. The US military began to realize that they were losing theit strongest men to serious psychiatric illnesses that resulted from experiencing harmful events like| the killing of buddies in combat. “In the U.S. Army alone (not counting Army air crews)| 304,000 men were lost to the fight for psychiatric reasons, Another 1,393,000 suffered symptomsserious enough to debilitate them for some period.” wosw.vva.org During World War II, Post4 traumatic stress disorder was no longer considered “Battle Shell Shock”, but was known ag “Combat Exhaustion” or “Battle Fatigue”. ‘The military forces across the world continued to| believe in the Russian Army concept that a solider only needs a Little mental rest for a short period of time before returning to war combat. “Author Paul Fussell says that term [Comba Exhaustion] as well as the term “Battle Fatigue” suggest “a little rest would be enough to restore| to usefull duty 2 soldier who would be more honestly designated as insane.” While the name change showed movement away from psychopathology, it dida’t keep the military mode! of] “predisposition plus stress equals collapse” from working its way back into military medicine.”| www wva.org The causes and effects of Post-traumatic stress disorder for today’s military goes back to| the Vietnam War era, During the Vietnam War, psychiatrists gave the disorder the name of Post{ traumatic Stress Disorder based on the common symptoms suffered by many of the military, veterans who came home after serving in the Vietnam War. The common symptoms suffered by| men and women who saw action in Vietnam were: nightmares of the war, flashbacks of being in combat; suffering from hallucinations that they were still at war; depression; suicidal thoughts| and drug and alcohol abuse. Many Vietnam veterans suffered from serious drug abuse and alcohol abuse as a side effect of post-traumatic stress disorder. “This goes to the heart of current, concerns about PTSD—that, paradoxically, its tremendous incidence in Vietnam was ultimately, a sign of the sanity of those who fought in the war. Otherwise, why should we be disturbed by the killing, by the stuff of war? But even after, in peacetime, the reconstruction of “the human! web” becomes more and more implausible: if societies are sane—if, in fact, they are civilized—| why are there wars?” www.vva.ordOne major cause of post-traumatic stress disorder among military men and women is ‘watching their close friends being killed or seriously injured during war, Another cause of| PTSD, is when a soldier has suffered serious bodily harm or bodily injury while in war. These! two are the major causes of PTSD because many military men and women are on the frontlines of war and have first-hand knowledge of witnessing major incidences of killing and bodily injury| associated with combat] Another major cause of post-traumatic stress disorder comes from soldiers who have been captured by the enemy and are now “prisoners of war”. Many “Prisoners of War” or POWs suffer great torture at the hands of the enemies. Anyone who has been involved in military combat during e war will suffer some form of PTSD. “As we know it today, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is marked by a re-experiencing of the trauma in thought, feeling, or dream| content, which is in turn evidenced by emotional and psychological numbing. Today, PTSD is, characterized by depression, loss of interest in work or activities, psychic and emotional numbing, anger, anxiety, cynicism and distrust, memory loss and alienation, and other, symptoms, And why not?” wwew.vva.orgt Since the latter part of the 20" Century, scientists and psychiatrists have begun! conducting studies to determine if Post-traumatic Stress Disorder can be passed from parent to| child or from generation to generation, “Scientists are studying groups with high rates of PTSD] such as the survivors of the Nazi death camps, Adjustment problems of the chifdren of thd survivors — the so-called “second generation” — is topic of study for researchers. www.pyschcentral.com Some studies from scientists have shown that common traits of PTSD) can be found in the second generation (children of PTSD patients), then the PTSD patients themselves. The studies show that the common traits of PTSD for the children are not passed onlto them biologically, but more by the relationship between the PTSD patient and the children| ‘The PTSD is passed to the children based on how the PTSD victim interacts and reacts to theit children, “Dr. Isabelle Mansuy and colleagues provide new evidence in the current issue of] Biological Psychiatry that some aspects of the impact of trauma cross generations and are associated with epigenetic changes, ie,, the regulation of the pattern of gene expression, without| changing the DNA sequence. They found that early-life stress induced depressive-like behaviors and altered behavioral responses to aversive environments in mice.” www psycheentral,com! ‘These scientific findings help to show that PTSD suffered by a military veteran can be passed conto their children in an environmental sense and interaction sense, A child of a military, veteran, who suffers from Post-traumatic stress disorder, can suffer the same symptoms becausd of witnessing their military parent suffer some of the side effects of PTSD. A child of military{ veteran may witness their parent having flashbacks from the war or hallucinating that they are still in the war. Such, trauma can cause a young person to suffer some of the symptoms of PTSD, like being fearful and depressed. “It is fascinating that clinical observations in humans havel suggested the possibility that specific traits acquired during life and influenced by environmental factors may be transmitted across generations. It is even more challenging to think thet wherl related to behavioral alterations, these traits could explain some psychiatric conditions in| families,” said Dr. Mansuy. www,psyche corn) My daughter has personall knowledge of bow her husband’s, who did a tour in Iraq, Post! troumatic Stress Disorder can affect one’s child. My grand-daughter has had to witness her| past year or so. My grand-daughter has had to spend quality time with me and my busband, so| | father’s bouts of depression which is one of the symptoms of PTSD on a regular basis for the| that my daughter could get her husband the help he needs to deal with his PTSD. My daughter{ ahas stated she has noticed a change in my grand-daughter sinee her father has returned from his, tour of duty in Iraq. My grand-daughter has become more withdrawn, quiet, and does not {interact much with classmates and friends. My husband and I have taken on the responsible of] assisting in the care of my grand-daughter to give my daughter a break as she deals with her] husband's treatment for PTSD. My grand-daughter is currently in treatment with a psychologist to deal with her problems and issues concerning her father. ‘The US military is trying to improve the psychology welfare and psychology health of] their 1.1 million enlisied men and women, The US military has finally realized the importaned of caring for not only the physical ailments of the enlisted, but also, the psychology health of] soldiers, The US military has set up various health programs that will deal with maintaining the psychology welfare and health of enlisted military men and women, “Like our physical fitness program, I believe that psychological resilience development can become not just something wel in the Army “do,” but rather a critical component of our culture that will be integrated throughout our community to develop better soldiers,” Gen, George W. Casey Jr, the Army's chief of staff] vwrote in the issue’s introduction. www.healthnewsdigest.com The US military is starting to realize the importance of caring for all the mental and physical needs of their enlisted men and| women, The US military is starting to see the importance of having resources available for the enlisted men and women because they have made the ultimate sacrifice of serving their country, during war time, ‘The US military has changed its policies concerning the prevention, care, and treatment of PTSD since the Iraqi Wat, “Modem warfare is characterized by demanding missions, extreme climates, sleep deprivation, cultural dissonance, physical fatigue, prolonged separation from family and the ever-present threat of serious bodily injury or death,” wrote Brig)Gen, Rhonda Cornum, PhD, MD, director of what's being called the Comprehensive Soldiet Fitness program. “Waiting for illness or injury to occur is not the way commanders in the U.S| Army approach high-risk actions, and it is not the way we should approach high psychologicall risk activities,” www healthnewsdigest.com The Army has adopted the basic principles of] positive psychology to help craft the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program. Positive, psychology’s areas of focus include building mental toughness as well as identifying signaturel strengths, meaning, purpose and positive relationships, in addition to preventing pathology; according to positive psychology pioneer Martin Seligman, PLD. Seligman, a former APA| president runs the University of Pennsylvania’ s Positive Psychology Center, which is the training hub of the program's master resiliency training program for noncommissioned officers, www healthnewsdigest.com This program started by the US Army “Comprehensive Soldier{ Fitness” Program will ensure that enlisted men and women are prepared for military combat and) have the tools needed to deal with and address Post-traumatic stress disorder! Since the Vietnam War, the US military has taken a serious look at the psychological and mental effects of being in combat during a war. The military now provides many services to) treat individuals who suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder. The military is now providing services to the families and caregivers of returning men and women from war combat who suffer fiom PTSD, The US military is now providing psychological and mental treatment services for PTSD war veterans, as well as, for their family members and caregivers, The military is now allowing military men and women to be honorably discharged if they suffer from PTSD, without the stigma of being considered a weak individual. ‘The main treatments that PTSD war veterans) are receiving from the Veterans Administration is medication (monitored and li ited)! psychotherapy, group therapy, and family therapy. The VA is now providing treatment services|for family members and caregivers of soldiers with PTSD. There are many non-profit organizations like the “Wounded Soldier Project” that have been established to assist family} members and caregivers caring for injured military veterans. There seems to be a lot of support for military veterans from the private sector as well as the government sector) In conelusion, the military has come to realize that a military veteran not only suffers ‘from physical injuries, but from psychology injuries as well. Since the Vietnam War, the! military has realized that many enlisted men and women suffer from psychological side effects of war more than they do from physical side effects. Military forces across the world are starting! to seriously take into consideration the psychological effects of war like Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The military is now setting up programs and treatment that not only deals with the physical ailments, but also the mental ailments of war and combat, ‘The military even) providing services to the family and caregivers of soldiers that suffer fiom mental illnesses from war like PTSD, ‘The US military, since the 20" Century, has realized the importance of having 4 strong soldier both mentally and physically, in order, to have a strong, reliable, and long-lasting. military. We need to realize that the men and women of the military have made the ultimate, sacrifice to ensure that we continue to enjoy the freedoms that we have as US citizens. Now, itis our turn, to care for our military men and women when they return home from war concerning not only their physical injuries, but their mental injuries as well.A Short History of PTSD: From Thermopylae to Hue Soldiers Have Abvays Had a Disturbing: Reaction to War, hitp://www.yva.org/archive/TheVeteran/2005_03/feature HistoryPTSD. him; lanmuary 1991)| ‘Nauert, Rick, Can Psychological Trauma Be Inherited? (Psych Central), hutp//psycheentral. com/news/2010/09/09/can-psychological-trauma-be-inherited/17901.himl, (September 2010) Patient Issues: Army Training Program Aims to Prevent PTSD) ‘PTSD _printer.shtm!, (January 2011) ‘Treatment of PTSD, hitp:sh -va.gov/public/treat ‘apy-med/treatment-pisd.as (February 2014)|OUTLINE ic Stress Disorder) Effect Military Veterans of it and Treatments for it? I, What is PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder)? A. Thesis Statement: The research paper will discuss how PTSD (Post-traumatic| Stress Disorder) has long effected military men and women who have experienced the disorder after being involved in combative warfare during war| time! B. Historical Background of PTSD regarding the military] 1. When was PTSD first discussed in war combat? 2. When PTSD was first documented as @ disease among the military men and) women’? 3. How it was first diagnosed and described as a disease in the military? C. How PTSD was first reated by the military? 1, Was PTSD concerned a serious disease when first diagnosed? 2. How military men and women were treated when PTSD was first discovered? TL. Body} ‘A. What causes Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among the military2} 1. What are the main causes of PTSD among the military? | 2. Isthere just one cause of PTSD or multiple causes of it \ 3. Can there any single cause of PTSD during combat warfare’ B. Can PTSD be genetically transmitted to a military veteran’s children’} | 1. IsPTSD a genetically transmittal disease from parent to child’ 2, Can PTSD be suffered by children whose parents have been in military) combat’! 3. How can ensure that PTSD does not mentally effect a military vet's family?) C. How can the military prevent PTSD among its soldiers? 1. There are any precautions that the military can take to prevent PTSD among| soldiers 2. Ifso, why aren’t the military taking such precautions to prevent PTSD among) soldiers? 3. Why isn’t the military doing all it can to stop PTSD? D. How is the military treating and caring for military vets who suffer from PTSD} 1, What are the treatment options for military vets who suffer from PTSD%] How di1, 2. What are the support systems in place for military vets and their families once they are discharged from the military? 3. What else can be done by the military to treat and help military vets wha suffer from PTSD? Conclusion A. Overview of PTSD, how it effects military personnel, and treatment options fos} military vets with PTSD| B. Thesis Statement: Post-traumatic stress disorder has recently been described as a serious disorder suffered by military veterans who have been involved in serious military combat, and now more is being done to treat military vets who suffer from PTSD! C. PTSD is serious mental disorder that greatly effects a large number of military{ veterans who have been involved in military combat,