Article
Traumatic stress response in severe ocular trauma sustained in modern unconventional wars
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Published: | June 18, 2008 |
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Purpose: Though military conflict has repeatedly kindled interest in the so called traumatic neurosis, no scientific approach was apparent until World War I, when terms like 'shell shock' and 'soldier's heart' first appeared. Today, when the Armed Forces are being increasingly deployed in Peace Support Roles and unconventional wars, it is relevant to understand the hitherto unexplored impact of war injuries on the soldier's psyche. The aims and purpose of this study were :
- (a) To screen ocular battle casualties for prevalence of traumatic stress response.
- (b) To study in depth the types of such psychosocial r
- (c) To find a co-relation with the extent of visual deprivation
Methods: A total of 'X' number of war casualties with severe ocular trauma received over a period of three years were studied for ten years. They were previously healthy soldiers engaged in a 'proxy war', which was dominated by artillery, grenades and IED blasts. They were put through psychiatric evaluation using the guidelines laid down in 'ICD 10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders'.
Results: Based on this, the psychosocial responses were classified as follows:
(a) Acute Stress Response: 31-89%
(b) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: 14-90%
(c) Adjustment Disorder: 21-100%
Conclusions: From above figures, it is evident that post traumatic stress disorder is vastly prevalent in victims of ocular trauma. Yet research on such patients all over the world is conspicuously lacking. This study endeavors to highlight the incidence and manifestations of such psychiatric morbidity in the vivtims of modern unconventional conflict, and suggest early involvement of psychiatrists in their holistic convalescence.