|
 Lecture and Webinar: Sept 7th 2:30-4:15 EST
Ten Years Later: What we have learned? The Psychological Impact of 9/11
Hosted by Psychology Beyond Borders, together with Columbia University - Department of Psychiatry and the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, University of California, Irvine's School of Social Ecology, and the National Center for PTSD. Register today.
This Month’s Feature: The Symptoms of PTSD
 After experiencing trauma, almost everyone has some type of stress reaction. Reactions can include nightmares, jumpiness, avoiding things that remind you of the event, and feeling detached from others. Many of these common reactions are the same as the symptoms of PTSD. This is one of the reasons why a health care professional needs to be the one to tell you if it is, or is not, PTSD.
The symptoms of PTSD can be grouped into four categories:
Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms)
Bad memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. You may feel the same fear and horror you did when the event took place. You may have nightmares or have trouble with sleep. You even may feel like you're going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
Avoiding situations that remind you of the event
You may try avoiding situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.
Feeling numb
You may find it hard to express your feelings. This is another way to avoid memories. You may numb out feeling bad, but also stop enjoying fun things.
Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal)
You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. You also may be irritable or angry.
PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not happen until months or years later. Read more about PTSD and some specific examples for each of these types of symptoms.
Trauma can include the experiences of war, but can also include:
- Child sexual or physical abuse
- Terrorist attacks
- Sexual or physical assault
- Serious accidents, such as a car wreck
- Natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake
Although the National Center for PTSD is a VA program, our goal is to help not only Veterans affected by war but also those who have experienced other types of trauma, like those listed above.
 If the symptoms or reactions to a traumatic event do not get better over time, or if the symptoms get worse, you should be assessed by a professional. Also, if the dreams, memories, or feelings get in the way of your relationships, your work or schoolwork, or your day-to-day life, we recommend that you seek care.
Symptoms and reactions often lead people to try different things to cope. Some ways of coping do more harm than good, particularly in the long run. Learn more about these negative ways of coping and their consequences.
What if you think you have PTSD?
 If you think you may have PTSD, you can talk to your doctor about the trauma or fill out a PTSD self screen. While this online PTSD screen asks about stressful military experiences, you can also answer the questions as they would apply to any other kind of trauma.
If you are not sure if you want to see a doctor or counselor yet, take a look at Considering Professional Help.
Support for Vets and their Caregivers
 VA provides resources to help support anyone who takes care of a Veteran. The VA Caregiver website offers caregivers help at home, connections to other caregivers, or someone to listen by calling the caregiver support line at 1-855-260-3274.
Coaching Into Care is another VA program that works with family members or friends who become aware of their Veteran’s post-deployment difficultiesundefinedand supports their efforts to find help for the Veteran. Contact 1-888-823-7458 or CoachingIntoCare@va.gov.
Research at NCPTSD
Risperidone Trial: Risperidone is an antipsychotic medication commonly prescribed for PTSD when antidepressants have failed to help. Results from this recent study conducted by NCPTSD staff indicate that risperidone does not alleviate the symptoms of PTSD. Read about this study in JAMA.
Find out more about PTSD Research, including the research done at the VA’s National Center for PTSD. Learn how research helps with the problem of PTSD and how you can help with research that is underway.
For Providers
Both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM), by the American Psychological Association, and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), by the World Health Organization, provide criteria for diagnosing PTSD. There are many similarities and also some differences between the two approaches. Learn more about the official criteria:
The DSM-IV, published in 2000, is now under revision, with greater emphasis on identifying common symptom clusters. Publication of the new DSM-V is expected in 2013. Updates to the ICD-10 have occurred annually since 1996.
Learn more about the symptoms of PTSD (and earn free CE credits) by taking the PTSD 101 Course: What is PTSD? or by reading a PTSD: An Overview.
If you work with children or other specific groups, find out more about the symptoms of PTSD for that cohort. You can also find assessment information for the most widely used trauma exposure measures and PTSD self report scales and interviews.
Other PTSD News
Studies on Female Vets will Influence VA Health Care
A recent article in the Army Times reported that the large number of women presently serving in the military and in combat zones for extended periods is producing reams of data that will shape health care and programs for female service members and Veterans for years to come. Read more…
RAND Report on Military Resilience
Many military resilience programs have launched to help Service Members and their families. Yet little is known about the effectiveness of these programs on developing resilience. To evaluate which methodologies could be useful in promoting resilience, a focused literature review was conducted to identify evidence-informed factors for promoting psychological resilience. Read more…
Real Warriors
This DoD program works to combat Service Members’ stigma about mental health issues. Order materials to encourage help-seeking or visit to watch videos from those who found help for combat stress. Resources are available – AND they work. Available on mobile format as well as the full Real Warriors website.
|
A welcoming home for our Troops.
