gms | German Medical Science

21. Jahrestagung der Retinologischen Gesellschaft gemeinsam mit dem
8. Symposium der International Society of Ocular Trauma

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Retinologie
International Society of Ocular Trauma

19.06. - 22.06.2008, Würzburg

Traumatic stress response in severe ocular trauma sustained in modern unconventional wars

Meeting Abstract

Suche in Medline nach

  • Deepak Kalra - Chandimandir/India

Retinologische Gesellschaft. International Society of Ocular Trauma. 21. Jahrestagung der Retinologischen Gesellschaft gemeinsam mit dem 8. Symposium der International Society of Ocular Trauma. Würzburg, 19.-22.06.2008. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2008. DocISOTRG2008V051

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/rg2008/08rg052.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 18. Juni 2008

© 2008 Kalra.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

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.