The article by Dani Blum, published by the New York Times, underlines how misconceptions about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD have resulted in biased diagnoses, leaving many people untreated. PTSD has long been affiliated with war due to the significant diagnosis of veterans compared to the civilian population. However, statistics indicate that about 6% of the civilian population are affected by PTSD, although 70% of the U.S population experience a traumatic event in their lifetime (Blum, 2022). A significant proportion of civilians are affected by post-traumatic stress but ignore the symptoms and fail to seek early interventions influenced by misconceptions about how PTSD develops and its symptoms. The policy solution would be to enhance research, public information and training about PTSD to adulterate misunderstandings that have caused PTSD to be overlooked.
Limited knowledge, training and research focused on PTSD have diluted the meaning of PTSD. There is a societal perception that PTSD only affect soldiers and people in war zones and causes multiple dysfunctions largely contributed by linear research and training, hence causing many civilians to ignore critical symptoms of PTSD (Murray et al., 2021). Refutation of the misconceptions would facilitate increased PTSD diagnosis at early stages among civilians crucial for effective management. There is no concrete policy action by Congress nor amendments in medical school curriculums.
Alternatively, PTSD diagnosis is substantially disruptive regardless of the severity. Having PTSD is a risk factor for comorbidity of other mental health problems such as depression and anxiety (Coventry et al., 2020). Furthermore, research has indicated that living with PTSD is consequential to post-traumatic growth, a positive psychological change that facilitates intrinsic healing (Finstad et al., 2021). Since there is no defined treatment for PTSD, the limited civilian diagnosis is in some way beneficial since diagnosis is a risk factor for comorbidity and post-traumatic growth from living with PTSD triggers natural treatment.
References
Blum, D. (2022). A private war: Why PTSD is still overlooked. The New York Times. Web.
Coventry, P. A., Meader, N., Melton, H., Temple, M., Dale, H., Wright, K. & Gilbody, S. (2020). Psychological and pharmacological interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder and comorbid mental health problems following complex traumatic events: Systematic review and component network meta-analysis. PLoS medicine, 17(8), e1003262. Web.
Finstad, G. L., Giorgi, G., Lulli, L. G., Pandolfi, C., Foti, G., León-Perez, J. M. & Mucci, N. (2021). Resilience, coping strategies and post-traumatic growth in the workplace following COVID-19: A narrative review on the positive aspects of trauma.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9453. Web.
Murray, H., Grey, N., Warnock-Parkes, E., Kerr, A., Wild, J., Clark, D. M., & Ehlers, A. (2022). Ten misconceptions about trauma-focused CBT for PTSD.the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 15. Web.