Information about PTSD/Combat Stress
Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms:
The person has been exposed to a traumatic event
in which both of the following were present:
The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted
with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or
serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others
The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted
with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or
serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others
Either while experiencing or after experiencing the
distressing event, the individual has three (or more) of the following
dissociative symptoms:
A subjective sense of numbing, detachment, or absence of
emotional responsiveness
A reduction in awareness of his or her surroundings
(e.g., "being in a daze") derealization
Depersonalization
Dissociative amnesia (i.e., inability to recall an
important aspect of the trauma)
Frequently Asked Questions
Source:
The National
Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
1. What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a
psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or
witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural
disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, abuse (sexual,
physical, emotional, ritual), and violent personal assaults like rape.
People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through
nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached
or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long
enough to significantly impair the persons daily life.
PTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well as
psychological symptoms. PTSD is complicated by the fact that it
frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as
depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other
problems of physical and mental health. The disorder is also associated
with impairment of the person's ability to function in social or family
life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces,
family discord, and difficulties in parenting.
2. What treatments are available for PTSD?
Elements common to many treatment therapies for PTSD
include education, exposure, exploration of feelings and beliefs, and
coping skills training. Additionally, the most common treatment
therapies include cognitive-behavioral treatment.
3. How do I locate specialists or support groups
for PTSD?
You can contact any of the following organizations. They
all have referral capabilities: the Sidran Foundation 410-825-8888,
Anxiety Disorders Association of America 240-485-1001; American
Psychological Association 800-964-2000; NAMI 800-950-6264
Also, your local Mental Health Services office (found in
the Yellow Pages of your telephone book) should be able to assist you.
4. As an American Veteran, who do I contact for
help with PTSD?
You can contact your local VA Hospital or Veterans
Center or call the VA Health Benefits Service Center toll free at
1-877-222-VETS!
5. As an American Veteran, how do I file a claim
for disability due to PTSD?
A determination of "service-connected" disability for
PTSD is made by the Compensation and Pension Service -- an arm of VA's
Veterans Benefits Administration. The clinicians who provide care for
veterans in VA's specialized PTSD clinics and Vet Centers do not make
this decision. A formal request ("claim") must be filed by the veteran
using forms provided by the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration. After
the forms are completely submitted, the veteran must complete interviews
concerning her or his "social history" (a review of family, work, and
educational experiences before, during, and after military service) and
"psychiatric status" (a review of past and current psychological
symptoms, and of traumatic experiences during military service). The
forms and information about the application process can be obtained by
Benefits Officers at any VA Medical Center, Outpatient Clinic, or
Regional Office.
The process of applying for a VA disability for PTSD can
take several months, and can be both complicated and quite stressful.
The Veteran's Service Organizations (DAV, American Legion, etc.) provide
"Service Officers" at no cost to help veterans and family members pursue
VA disability claims. Service Officers are familiar with every step in
the application and interview process, and can provide both technical
guidance and moral support. In addition, some Service Officers
particularly specialize in assisting veterans with PTSD disability
claims. Even if a veteran has not been a member of a specific Veterans
Service Organization, the veteran still can request the assistance of a
Service Officer working for that organization. In order to get
representation by a qualified and helpful Service Officer, you can
directly contact the local office of any Veterans Service Organization
-- or ask for recommendations from other veterans who have applied for
VA disability.
6. Does the National Center for PTSD publish any
journals? How do I subscribe?
Yes, the National Center publishes two journals.
The PTSD Research Quarterly contains review articles on specific topics related to PTSD, written by guest experts. Each article contains a selective bibliography with abstracts and a supplementary list of annotated citations. The Research Quarterly is sent free of charge to qualified readers, and is available to others by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office. Or you may obtain a copy of any issue from the National Center for PTSD Web site, http://www.ptsd.va.gov/ Each issue of the PTSD Research Quarterly is available in Portable Document Format (PDF), which reproduces the exact format of the paper edition. You may read the issue on your computer monitor, or print it. In order to read or print PDF documents, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader. The appropriate version for your computer may be obtained free of charge from the Adobe Web site.
To be placed on the mailing list for either subscription, please contact Sandra Mariotti at Sandra.Mariotti@Dartmouth.edu or tel. 802-296-5132 ext. 5132.
7. How do I locate books on PTSD?
You can contact your local library for books, articles, etc. on PTSD and related subjects. Information on the National Center for PTSD's resource center is available, including books recommended for clinicians, librarians, and a search engine for locating specific books.
8. Is there any other place I can find specific
information concerning PTSD?
The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome has a comprehensive website. The Web site is http://www.ptsd.va.gov/. The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was created within the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989, in response to a Congressional mandate to address the needs of veterans with military-related PTSD. Its mission was, and remains: To advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders. This website is provided as an educational resource concerning PTSD and other enduring consequences of traumatic stress.