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The Daily OrangePanel, speaker to discuss effects of post-traumatic stress disorder
Discussion examines illness in soldiers who return from Iraq
By Julia Terruso
Posted: 4/1/08, 11:05 PM EST Section: News
For many veterans, the horrors of war do not cease when they return home. For many victims of rape and abuse, experiences do not fade but darken as time goes on. For many witnesses of tragic events, mental images linger, affecting lifestyles and peace of mind.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 7.7 million adults suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among those diagnosed are adults, teenagers and returning war veterans. The College of Arts and Sciences will host a lecture and panel today discussing PTSD and its effect on soldiers, from the time of the Trojan War to today.
"(PTSD) is a topic that's quite prominent now on campus and across the country, especially in connection with the Iraq War," said Gerald Greenberg, associate dean of The College of Arts and Sciences. "The people in (The Program in Classics) and some of the other people on campus tried to think how we could broaden that idea."
The two-part program consists of a panel discussion at 12:45 p.m. in 304AB Schine Student Center. The discussion, called "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Undoing of Character," will be followed by a lecture by author and research specialist Jonathan Shay in Maxwell Auditorium at 4:30 p.m.
Greenberg said he sees the panel and lecture as an ideal opportunity to bring an international issue to a localized setting.
"This is a classic example of how research in this area can be useful for people everywhere," he said. "Not just people doing the research but people outside, especially for the veterans, - we have a VA hospital right next door."
Greenberg helped set up the panel of three State University of New York Upstate Medical University professors moderated by Stephen Maisto, a clinical psychology professor.
Maisto described PTSD as a syndrome that appears six months after the initial stress or event actually happened.
"It's a delayed response to a major stress," he said.
Maisto said these stresses include, but are not limited to, participation in combat or war, rape, a major car accident or witnessing a major injury or death. Symptoms include avoidance of people and places, high anxiety and flashbacks.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 7.7 million adults suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among those diagnosed are adults, teenagers and returning war veterans. The College of Arts and Sciences will host a lecture and panel today discussing PTSD and its effect on soldiers, from the time of the Trojan War to today.
"(PTSD) is a topic that's quite prominent now on campus and across the country, especially in connection with the Iraq War," said Gerald Greenberg, associate dean of The College of Arts and Sciences. "The people in (The Program in Classics) and some of the other people on campus tried to think how we could broaden that idea."
The two-part program consists of a panel discussion at 12:45 p.m. in 304AB Schine Student Center. The discussion, called "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Undoing of Character," will be followed by a lecture by author and research specialist Jonathan Shay in Maxwell Auditorium at 4:30 p.m.
Greenberg said he sees the panel and lecture as an ideal opportunity to bring an international issue to a localized setting.
"This is a classic example of how research in this area can be useful for people everywhere," he said. "Not just people doing the research but people outside, especially for the veterans, - we have a VA hospital right next door."
Greenberg helped set up the panel of three State University of New York Upstate Medical University professors moderated by Stephen Maisto, a clinical psychology professor.
Maisto described PTSD as a syndrome that appears six months after the initial stress or event actually happened.
"It's a delayed response to a major stress," he said.
Maisto said these stresses include, but are not limited to, participation in combat or war, rape, a major car accident or witnessing a major injury or death. Symptoms include avoidance of people and places, high anxiety and flashbacks.
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