African American Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Association

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder precipitated by life threatening experiences that result in clear biological changes, psychological symptoms, and impairment of the ability to function well in life.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a term used to explain the distress of those who have gone through such an extraordinary and stressful event in their lives that it has left them psychologically wounded. Generally, individuals with PTSD experience intense fear, helplessness, or horror during trauma exposure. The trauma of military service in war such as being under enemy fire or ambushed; very hazardous duty such as being a team member in reconnaissance aircraft, patrol boats, navy ships or cargo and transport trucks is one such cause. Being on frequent or prolonged combat missions in enemy territory (including Cambodia and Laos ), being attacked by sappers, snipers, artillery or rockets is yet another cause. The witnessing of death and terrible harm to your own body or the bodies of others; or walking point, being a radio operator, a medic, a scout, a tunnel rat, and perimeter sentry were other stressors. Members of long range recon patrols or door gunners and the extreme conflict of having to kill or be killed is another primary cause of PTSD during war times in the military.

Other stresses sufficient to cause PTSD other than those aforementioned are situation where the demands made on a person strain his or her immediate coping capacities. When a person feels unable to resolve conflicts with work or family, he or she begins to feel tense and strained. Where there is extreme or overwhelming stress, i.e. stress that is beyond what is expected in the "normal" life cycle, trauma results. It is this shock reaction to catastrophic events, such as war, sexual assault, physical assaults, serious accidents or natural disasters that can lead to PTSD. The aftermath of childhood sexual assaults, physical abuse or severe neglect and the sudden unexpected death of a love one are others can lead to PTSD triggering within the individuals an experience of intense fear, helplessness, or horror during trauma exposure.

Most Veterans with PTSD also have other psychiatric disorders, which are a consequence of PTSD. These veterans have co-occurring disorders, which include depression, alcohol and/or drug abuse problems, panic, and/or other anxiety disorders. PTSD sufferers are more likely to have more physical health complaints and disorders; exhibit functional deficits in employment, social and family relationships, memory and cognition.

PTSD is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in America's society and it affects approximately 40% to 70% of the population, and it has a lifetime prevalence range of 8% to 31%. Approximately twenty two percent (22%) or 830,000 Vietnam Veterans have clinically significant symptoms of PTSD that has existed for decades. To date, fifteen percent (15%) of Gulf War vVterans have a lifetime diagnosis of PTSD, while 40% to 75% of Veterans held captive as POWs suffer from the effects of PTSD.

Lifetime prevalence of PTSD is highest among minority veterans of the Vietnam Era, according to Congressionally Mandated Readjustment Studies conducted during the 1900s. Further, research shows All Veterans diagnosed with PTSD are significantly more likely to suffer from a variety of chronic and infectious diseases which will affect their circulatory, digestive, musculoskelatal, and respiratory systems more than 20 or 30 years after military service.

Women are twice as likely as men are to develop PTSD, and the disorder is considerably longer lasting for women than men. The severity, frequency, intensity, reaction and support following the incidence including the duration of the exposure are the single most important determinant of the likelihood for developing PTSD, its severity, and its duration.

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychiatric Disorders

Complex PTSD (sometimes called "Disorder of Extreme Stress") is found among individuals who have been exposed to prolonged traumatic circumstances, especially during childhood, such as childhood sexual abuse. Developmental research is revealing that many brain and hormonal changes may occur as a result of early, prolonged trauma, and these changes contribute to difficulties with memory, learning, and regulating impulses and emotions. Combined with a disruptive, abusive home environment that does not foster healthy interaction, these brain and hormonal changes may contribute to severe behavioral difficulties (such as impulsivity, aggression, sexual acting out, eating disorders, alcohol/drug abuse, and self-destructive actions), emotional regulation difficulties (such as intense rage, depression, or panic attacks), and mental difficulties (such as extremely scattered thoughts, dissociation, and amnesia). As adults, these individuals often are diagnosed with depressive disorders, personality disorders, or dissociative disorders. Treatment often takes much longer than with regular PTSD; may progress at a much slower rate, and requires a sensitive and structured treatment program delivered by a trauma specialist.

Psychiatric disorders that commonly co-occur with PTSD include depression, alcohol/substance abuse, panic disorder, and other anxiety disorders. Although crises that threaten the safety of the survivor or others must be addressed first, the best treatment results are achieved when both PTSD and the other disorder(s) are treated together rather than one after the other. This is especially true for PTSD and alcohol/substance abuse.

[ Back ]