From The Economist
WITH its deafening explosions, searing fires, dismembered corpses and stench of death, war pushes everyone it touches to the brink. Most recover naturally. Some, though, suffer psychological injuries that do not heal. The names of these injuries have changed. Once they were known as shell-shock; then as battle fatigue; then as combat stress reaction. Now, the preferred term is post-traumatic stress disorder. But whatever they are called, they are worryingly common. About 17% of American troops returning from Iraq and 11% of those coming back from Afghanistan suffer from them.
The most common treatment is known as exposure-based therapy. This asks those afflicted to imagine the sights and sounds that traumatised them, and helps them confront those memories. It often works. But not always. And it would undoubtedly be better if troops did not develop the condition in the first place. Read More...