Ouch Q&A #14: Post-traumatic stress disorder

A: Well, if you're referring to Afghanistan and Iraq in your form of knuckle-dragging satire (I take it that you're still getting the rejection letters from Private Eye, are you?) then, no, not really. The numbers of people experiencing war trauma, or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) are, according to research at Nottingham University, going to hugely increase in the next few years due to the number of 'our boys' fighting in areas such as Helmand and Basra.


Q: But come on, they're big boys! They'll be OK once they're on leave and have drunk a couple of pints. I'll bet the pilots who fought the Battle of Britain didn't claim to have anything like this.

A: Don't be so sure. Incidents of PTSD amongst men involved in military conflicts go all the way back to the American Civil War. They ran high after the Falklands War with over 300 British combatants committing suicide since 1982. It is believed that as many as 60,000 American soldiers (18 per cent of the total US fighting force) and 2,000 British soldiers have been, or will be, diagnosed with PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Q: So what exactly is post-traumatic stress disorder? A bit of insomnia, perhaps? A slight headache?

A: PTSD is serious. Self-harm, anger, violence and drug addiction, as well as depression, are all common symptoms. The debilitating effects often do not begin until after a member of the armed forces has retired or left active duty. Dr. Nigel Hunt of Nottingham University, who is leading the current research, said: "Once out of the services, these people are the responsibility of the NHS, where many practitioners don't have the experience and specialist knowledge ... they can spend up to two years waiting to be treated."

Q: So what do we do with people who develop PTSD, even if it is years after they finish their service?

A: Dr. Hunt and his team at Nottingham University are looking closely at Finland's approach to this problem. Veterans there are offered annual 'respite care' sessions at specially built camps. Here they can spend two weeks a year with other veterans, in a relaxing environment, with access to expert advice and help. As a result, Finland sees a very limited incidence of war trauma.