NationStates Jolt Archive

Blood Test Identifies Those Vulnerable to PTSD (http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/2005320.asp)
by James Dunnigan
March 2, 2005
It’s now possible to determine, via a blood test, who is most vulnerable to the psychological aftereffects of combat. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been around for as long as humans have been exposed to terrifying situations. But only in the past few decades has their been a lot of scientific research on the subject. It is now known that about twelve percent of people exposed to a traumatic situation (combat, car crash, whatever), will eventually develop psychological problems (can’t sleep, or concentrate, plus irritability, nightmares and flashbacks) months after the trauma. Until Israeli scientists recently developed a test that accurately identified those most likely to develop PTSD, you had to watch everyone if you wanted to identify the PTSD victims. The new blood test will make it easier to treat PTSD victims, who can, in most cases, have their PTSD cured or minimized if they get the right treatment quickly enough.


I'd like to see more details, but very interesting....

They found, for instance, that a lot of Special Forces people DON'T get PTSD, no matter how many people they kill, or what they see in combat.

If you've ever met some of them, they are the warmest, nicest, give-the-shirt-off-their-back people you'll ever meet. They also have no concept of "quit" or "I give up".

Mentally, extremely optimistic people. They view bad things a a challenge, and are very well-grounded.

That's probably testable by chemistry, but right now they do it through the various schools - where if you can't take the misery and stress, they throw you out.

hmm yea i had/have ptsd, a whle ago i was in a car accdent and now evertime s a car coming from the side im like :eek: