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British army veterans today lost a court battle to win compensation for the after effects of trauma suffered in active service from the Falklands to Northern Ireland, Bosnia and the 1991 Gulf war

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Each year thousands of people will experience the life-disrupting symptoms of PTSD, which was first widely recognized during World War I and known as "shell shock" or "battle fatigue."

Like combat horrors, other "manmade" tragedies such as criminal assaults or sexual attacks can provoke PTSD symptoms, as can a fire, earthquake, or other natural disaster.

Accidents--car and airplane crashes, for example--are also common precipitators of PTSD.

By definition, the disorder can only develop in response to a traumatic event, It cannot arise from other seriously stressful occurrences that are less extreme such as losing a job, or going through a divorce.

There are three main types of symptoms:

• Intrusion, the event is constantly revisited in the persons mind:
  • Flashbacks (sudden unwanted vivid memories, like reliving the event)
  • Painful emotions
  
  
• Avoidance:
  
  • Numbness and loss of deep feelings
  • Depression, guilt and anxiety
  • Retreat from relationships
  • Avoidance of activities which may trigger memories of the event
  • Avoidance of dealing with the grief and anger
  • Avoidance of symptoms by using "self-medication" with alcohol or drugs, problems with drug and alcohol abuse.
  
  
• Increased arousal, the feeling of constant threat can lead to:
  • Very short temper
  • Irritable emotions
  • Anger
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Disrupted sleep and nightmares
  • Poor mental and work performance

• People with PTSD may have low self-esteem or relationship problems, or may seem disconnected from their lives.

• Other problems that may mask or intensify symptoms include:

• Psychological problems such as depression or other anxiety disorders, including panic disorder.
• Physical complaints such as chronic pain, fatigue, stomach pains, respiratory problems, headaches, muscle cramps or aches, low back pain or cardiovascular problems.
• Self-destructive behavior, including alcohol or drug abuse, as well as suicidal tendencies.

• Responses to trauma vary widely and many people who experience extreme trauma do not develop PTSD. However, for those who do, PTSD symptoms usually appear within several weeks of the trauma, but some people don't experience symptoms until months or even years later.

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