Poll UPDATE: Reasons for military PTSD

[Simon Marc]

In this poll I would like to ask veterans anonymously about what they think what might be the reason for their PTSD. Only answers by veterans to avoid the distortion of results, please! I added some points which were recommended by the community.

 

[EveHarrington]

I am not a vet, so I’m responding just in the survey side of things.

To me it’s not clear what you are asking.

Are you asking about the trauma someone endured, or the factors that compounded the trauma so that PTSD developed? Or both? If both, then it seems like you should be asking more than one question, not just lumping everything together.

I think you’ve essentially got to go back to the drawing board. You haven’t done your basic research to even know what kind of question(s) to ask for your research paper. What does it even mean that you’re asking if lack of excitement is why someone has PTSD? (Vets, please don’t jump on me, I’m seriously asking how something like this directly relates to the disorder per DSM 5) What does this even mean? Do you understand the basics of criterion A?

I think that if you want to write a research paper you’ve got to flesh out exactly what you’re researching.

This is due in a week? I honestly think you shouldn’t have left your research until the last minute. I don’t think you have the basis at this point to do the disorder any sort of justice.

Maybe this sounds harsh, but I’m just being honest. Next time do your homework before choosing a thesis. I think you may be in over your head.

 

[Simon Marc]

Are you asking about the trauma someone endured, or the factors that compounded the trauma so that PTSD developed?

Sometimes one trauma can cause another one. For example: MST-->PTSD

MST = Military Sexual Trauma (including sexual assault, rape, coerced sex & sex acts under the threat of death/imprisonment of yourself or others, torture, and other fun things) ....all of which can all cause PTSD.

What does it even mean that you’re asking if lack of excitement is why someone has PTSD?

Many soldiers say that, after their deployment, the world "lost its colour" and that they couldn't regain the vitality or excitement they had in the combat zone. If those strong emotions are eliminated, chances for depression are higher.

This is due in a week?

Yes, school kept me busy. Furthermore, I tried another approach a few weeks ago, but I didn't get any answer by veterans.

I don’t think you have the basis at this point to do the disorder any sort of justice.

From a scientific point of view absolutely not. I do not have much knowledge about the DSM-system or psychological research. But please take into account that
a) this is my first term paper (I'm still in high school)
b) the the term paper should only consist of 12 pages
c) the term paper is written for civilians who want to get an overview on the issue.

But you're right, I'm not a professional.

 

[The Albatross]

Ticked a box for you, hope you get enough respondents for your needs @Simon Marc

 

[Friday]

As I said in your first go at this, I don’t know the cause of my ptsd (combat PTSD, yes. Which aspect/event? No idea.), so I ticked the boxes of things I was exposed to.

***

If this is an English as a Foreign Language paper... heads up, the word “reason” is one of our vague multiple meaning words.

Reason > Cause
Reason > Contributing Factors

Cause will ONLY be life threatening trauma or sexual violence / known as Criterion A trauma in the world of PTSD.

DSM5

Criterion A: stressor (one required)

The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way(s):

• Direct exposure
• Witnessing the trauma
• Learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma
• Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in the course of professional duties (e.g., first responders, medics)

Contributing factors will be far more varied (and include things like family / society support afterward, threats against your career, reintegrating into society... IE resilience stuff... great article on that here Traumatic resilience: avoiding ptsd ) , etc.

Speaking of GREAT articles, that really provide an excellent overview on several different aspects... you may well have already read them, but just in case not? I cannot recommend these any more highly. Absolutely stellar job done by Anthony synthesising all of the available info (the manual on PTSD is over 700 pages long!) into concise and clearly laid out format. If you read nothing else, read the first 2 in this list.

Ptsd basics

The ptsd cup explanation

Understanding post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)

Ptsd diagnosis

Ptsd therapies

Myths
Ptsd only affects military?
If trauma, then ptsd: busting the media fallacy of ptsd prevalence

Good luck with your paper! :D

 

[Simon Marc]

As I said in your first go at this, I don’t know the cause of my ptsd (combat PTSD, yes. Which aspect/event? No idea.), so I ticked the boxes of things I was exposed to.

***

If this is an English as a Foreign Language paper... heads up, the word “reason” is one of our vague multiple meaning words.

Reason > Cause
Reason > Contributing Factors

Cause will ONLY be life threatening trauma or sexual violence / known as Criterion A trauma in the world of PTSD.

DSM5


Contributing factors will be far more varied (and include things like family / society support afterward, threats against your career, reintegrating into society... IE resilience stuff... great article on that here Traumatic resilience: avoiding ptsd ) , etc.

Speaking of GREAT articles, that really provide an excellent overview on several different aspects... you may well have already read them, but just in case not? I cannot recommend these any more highly. Absolutely stellar job done by Anthony synthesising all of the available info (the manual on PTSD is over 700 pages long!) into concise and clearly laid out format. If you read nothing else, read the first 2 in this list.

Ptsd basics

The ptsd cup explanation

Understanding post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)

Ptsd diagnosis

Ptsd therapies

Myths
Ptsd only affects military?
If trauma, then ptsd: busting the media fallacy of ptsd prevalence

Good luck with your paper! :D

Thank you for pointing out the different meanings of the term "reason". I think I rather want to ask about the contributing factors. I'll take a look at the links?