Resilience Against PTSD

I've just been reading about a study concerned with measuring 'resilience' against PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Researchers have studied the survivors from the World Trade Centre Attack (9/11). Some of their findings were measured against some general information known about Viet Nam survivors. Researchers have been trying to find out why some people are more affected and suffer more mental illness symptoms than others after such traumatic events.

Not a lot of information was displayed about Viet Nam statistics but it seems that World Trade Centre Attack survivors fared a little better than Viet Nam survivors and this is probably because less was known about PTSD back in the 1970's. (This paragraph, my own assumptions - from general knowledge of Viet Nam dates and knowing that much more is known about PTSD Now than in the 70's). Also, some of the data from Viet Nam studies was probably gathered WELL AFTER the fact (I know that more formal and legitimate studies of Viet Nam vets and lasting effects of the war were not initiated until about a decade after the fact - not until after people noticed that Viet Nam vets were still suffering severe symptoms of PTSD long after they were removed from the 'war' situation), while WTC-Attack survivors were approached in a very timely manner (within 6 months) so that researchers could monitor PTSD reactions. This difference in timing will account for researchers knowing quite a bit less, in general, about Viet Nam vets and victims than about WTC survivors.

WTC survivors had 'support options' available to them shortly after the attack, whereas Viet Nam survivors gained 'support options' only a long time after their time of active stress.

The point of this post is to mention what items seemed to be most helpful about managing PTSD - but I felt I should clarify the difference in the two groups studied above because each group actually had very different variables. Usually, such differences can hamper research, however, the drawbacks or 'lack of support' and having less knowledge about PTSD in the one instance actually heightens the focus on 'support' for the study initiated to track the progress of 9/11 survivors.

Bottom line...

IMMEDIATE and APPROPRIATE support for victims of stressful disaster events is CRUCIAL.

For the 9/11 people, those who were able to access appropriate supports soonest were more likely to cope with the disaster and recover with less PTSD symptoms, in general - or - at least they were able to cope even when mental illness and continued stress symptoms occurred in reaction to 9/11 events.

9/11 survivors who had stong support systems (family, counsellors, mental health workers, discussion groups, physicians, etc) and accessed them regularly - showed more signs of recovering health and returning to more normal life skills, activities and work. Those who didn't access or who didn't really have solid support systems were often afflicted with symptoms of mental illness for longer - or they suffered more severe symptoms.

The New York City study of residents in the area near the 9/11 attacks numbered 2 752 and some of these individuals were actually inside the World Trade Centre when the attack happened. Of all these, two-thirds of the people displayed only one or NO SYMPTOMS of PTSD.

This study suggests, as well - that some people are very 'resilient' - moreso than we think! It was amazing to read that for this study, done only 6 months after the World Trade Centre Attack - a great number of people actually had NO SYMPTOMS of PTSD!

That's amazing - and the people from this study were RIGHT THERE...right in the city when the attacks occurred.

Too bad the world didn't realize how important 'support systems' were when the veterans came back out of Viet Nam decades ago! In essence, the Viet Nam Veterans who suffered so greatly for a decade after the war - were the ones who taught scientists, doctors, health professionsals, etc., that special supports are necessary after certain disastrous experiences and events.

Now, in North America, at least, we have a lot of known support protocols for many different severe events - even RAPE victims have better supports now and in a lot of North American cities, special 'teams' are in place when a female is admitted to a hospital and a rape is suspected as the cause of her injuries. With these teams, there are often 'all women' support workers - so that the victim has less emotional discomfort, receives some counselling right away, etc., on top of all the testing and questioning that has to be done.

Sometimes, for severe road accidents, there are special 'trauma team' workers who can come to the bedside of children whose parents were killed in accidents and the 'support' process can start immediately for unfortunate and innocent victims of such disasters.

Though sometimes PTSD is thought of as an 'overused' and convenient 'catch-phrase' for all kinds of things, it's nice to know that long-term stress is still being researched and is still taken very seriously.

PTSD is no joking or small matter. Too little is known about it - so I think that those who would minimize the effects and occurrence of PTSD problems and call PTSD 'convenient' for some - are sorely mistaken. It would be good to sometimes err on the side of caution, anyway, with this sensitive term rather than display the 'suck it up' or 'get over it' attitude, in my opinion.

I'm not sure exactly why this article struck me or why I felt I had to post this information to my blog...

Maybe - just 'cos it matters to me.

A general bit of info about 'Resilience' can be found at about.com and the following link can also lead you to some more in-depth studies on this topic if you're interested:

RESILIENCE