| PTSD AND WAR |
| This web page is based on a 'prac' I did for my Radio Training Course with 2rrr. The topic is PTSD (or, more specifically, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and War. I chose this topic for several reasons. Firstly, I was studying Abnormal Psychology at that time; and, secondly, one of the 'pracs' I did with the RTC fell on Anzac Day. Hence, the decision to do one on PTSD and how it relates to war (and Military Combat in war). Originally, PTSD was called 'shell shock', 'combat fatigue' or 'battle fatigue', and many of the studies on PTSD were carried out on Vietnam Veterans (Vietnam Vets for short). The symptoms of PTSD include: depression, intrusive thoughts and 'mental images', hyperarousal, numbing, anger, anger-control problems, and drug and alcohol problems. Goldberg and colleagues (1990) conducted a study on Vietnam Veterans. They found that the participants who experienced more stress during combat suffered more severely than those suffering less stress. The stress levels they experienced varied according to: 1. The types of duties being carried out; 2. The severity and nature of the traumatic experience; and 3. The pre-existing personality characteristics of those who went to war. Laufer, Bretts and Gallops (1985) carried out another study on Vietnam Vets, and found that the participants experienced three levels of stress. Stress levels varied according to: 1. Exposure to combat; 2. Exposure to abusive violence during combat; and 3. Participation in abusive violence during combat. Furthermore, they found that those participants who took part in the abusive violence (during combat) suffered the greatest levels of stress and PTSD symptoms (those stated in the second paragraph). Another study (author not known) of American POWs in World War II (in Japanese camps) found that about 40% of men who were imprisoned had died, while many of the survivors suffered less tolerance to physical illness, less frustration tolerance, alcohol and drug problems, irritability and other signs of emotional instability. Hence, if you don't want any of these problems, don't go to war (if you can help it) and spare a thought for those who are sacrificing their lives for their countries. As the ANZACs say: 'Lest we forget'. |
| Taken from: Chapter 4, 'Stress and Adjustment Disorders', in Carson, Butcher & Mineka's (1999): 'Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life', pp 119-158. |