VA Psychiatrist says changing designation for PTSD would end the stigma that prevents sufferers from seeking treatment
Dr. Jonathan Shay, a psychiatrist who has worked with the VA clinic in Boston, spoke at the American Psychoanalytic Association Meeting today and stated his belief that removing the word “disorder” from the name of the condition, “post-traumatic stress disorder,” or PTSD, would help remove the stigma that prevents many wounded veterans from seeking treatment for their pain. His argument was pretty striking to me.
“I want to get everyone thinking like a trauma surgeon rather than an internist,” he said.
For example, if a soldier loses an arm in a roadside bombing incident, “he wouldn’t be diagnosed with ‘MAD,’ or missing arm disorder,” Dr. Shay said.
In treating such a soldier, the first step would be to control hemorrhage, then look to prevent infection — a complication that manifests much more slowly, much as the lasting effects of PTSD, Dr. Shay said.
Chicago psychiatrist Prudence Gourguechon, M.D., president of the American Psychoanalytic Association, affirmed Dr. Shay’s suggestion.
“It is a psychological injury of war,” she said. “It’s not that there is something [innately] wrong with you.”
Although my injury, complex PTSD, is different from the PTSD that veterans suffer, I believe strongly that such a sea change in the way PTSD is treated could really help wounded warriors and their families recover at least partly, if not completely, from PTSD. For more on Dr. Shay’s contention, see the MedPage article that is the subject of the video report below.
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I’ve always wondered why "disorder" was ever used to begin with. I do believe words matter–they are huge. I always hesitate to comment on any blog because I seem to trip all over myself. May today be a better day for you than yesterday. ~ tricia
Tricia, you can trip all over my blog any time you want. Namaste.
I am here to let you know that it is possible to move past PTSD. I suffered from it terribly. Finally, years later, I found out about a medication that helped almost immediately. I am not here to "push" medication.Rather, I stopped by to let you know that you are valued. I know this, because I came here via Svasti. Hang in there, sweetie. I’d like to get to know you.