Battles Can Cause Stress Disorders
July 29 -- Army officials at Fort Bragg are trying to understand what led four soldiers returning from combat in Afghanistan to kill their wives in a six-week span.
Though there's been no immediate evidence that the men were showing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, the string of killings has raised concern about the effect of their service on the men.
The wives were slain between June 11 and July 23, two shot to death, one stabbed and one strangled. In two of the incidents, the soldiers killed themselves after killing their wives.
PTSD is a social and mental disorder found among people exposed to an overwhelming event. It's common among veterans who were engaged in combat, but also abused children and people who witness natural disasters. Its symptoms derive from the stresses of readjusting to life as ordinary after witnessing the extraordinary. About half of all Vietnam combat veterans have suffered some form of PTSD since returning home, according to National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. More than 150,000 veterans were treated for PTSD in 2001.
Feelings of Nervousness
Experts say those suffering from PTSD often display "hypervigilance," or restlessness, which keeps them from sleeping. Nightmares and repetitive thoughts are also a symptom, though not in every case. Those suffering are often described as nervous or jumpy, unable to concentrate and easily startled.
Recent studies have hinted that physiological changes could accompany PTSD. Cynthia Pfeffer, a psychiatrist from Cornell University, said evidence suggests extreme stress can alter hormone levels, leading to anxiety and depression. Pfeffer said scientists could check a person's saliva for the hormone cortisol to see what effect stress is having.
Pfeffer, who recently received a grant to monitor the development of children who lost of a loved one during the attacks of Sept. 11, said not everyone suffers from PTSD and the reasons could be genetic.
Most often, signs of PTSD begin within three months of the event, but sensory reminders — sights, smells, sounds — can trigger the stresses for years after. Treatment is provided by counseling. Experts say the sooner the disorder is addressed, the better.
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