POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND THE MILITARY

AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD) is a psychological disorder caused by exposure to traumatic and noxious experiences. It is an enduring psychological disturbance attributed to the personal experience of a major traumatic event involving actual or threatened death. PTSD is characterized by the re-experiencing of an extremely traumatic event accompanied by symptoms of increased arousal and by avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma. The horrifying experience leads to general increase in anxiety and arousal, avoidance of emotionally charged situations, and the frequent reliving of the traumatic events. This condition has consequential personal, economic and efficiency cost on the military of any country. Experimental evidences and observations support a biological predisposition to PTSD, while the Cognitive behavioural school explains PTDS as learned helplessness; a condition necessary to elicit assistance and possible de-listing from dangerous assignments. It is also plausible that sufferer's faulty evaluation of stressful stimuli in juxtaposition with personal aspirations may precipitate PTDS with frustration as a mediating variable. Combination of chemo, and psycho therapies is advocated for faster and long lasting relief.