PTSD Research Update

My analysis of PTSD continues as I watch 60 Minutes episodes on PTSD. These accounts of PTSD caused on the battlefield help me understand the importance of finding ways to help veterans in order to fight their PTSD symptoms. Marine Clay Hunt is a shining example of the sudden change in demeanor in a marine when he returns home from war. PTSD overtook his mind and his life. Veterans need support and the lack of societal support disappoints me as an American citizen who values democratic beliefs being protected by our soldiers. Operation Proper Exit is another 60 Minutes episode that describes the relationship between traumatic brain injuries caused in war and PTSD. Many soldiers experience permanent damage to their brain (more severe than concussions) and return to the battlefield with PTSD and are incapable of performing to their peak in a war zone due to their injuries.

Episodes:
The Life and Death of Marine Clay Hunt,
Coming Home: Justice for our Veterans,
Operation Proper Exit: A Return to the War Zone

PTSD Research Update

I started my research for PTSD on Gale Virtual Reference Library where I read two segments. The first was more of a general background information article on PTSD that discussed the history, causes, aftermath, and treatment of PTSD. This article was a broad overview on PTSD and defined PTSD as a psychological disorder. The second article was much longer and went into more depth than the first. Prevalence, epidemiology, and comorbidity was discussed in regards to PTSD, as well as risk factors and indicators that promote resilience. Also, assessing a suspected PTSD victim was covered in the second article.


"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. Ed. Bonnie Strickland. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 May 2013.

Pfefferbaum, Betty. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. Ed. James J. Ponzetti. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 May 2013.

Gay Athletes Receive Mixed Messages from Media

Jason Collins, an NBA veteran who has played on six teams, recently announced he is gay in a soon-to-be released column in Sports Illustrated. Professional athletic organizations including the NBA and NHL have shown their support for Collins-reaffirming their policies of inclusiveness. Collins is the first openly-gay male athlete in the four major American pro team sports. The Human Rights Campaign praised Collins, suggesting "Jason Collins has forever changed the face of sports." This type of praise wasn't portrayed by the entire sports community. Chris Broussard said "If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be. I think that's walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ." Broussard can believe whatever suites him and his religion, but even the slightest implication that anything is wrong with being a homosexual is not only inappropriate, but also unfair and despicable. Professional wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, Mike Wallace, tweeted an absurd comment in response to Collins' coming-out. Wallace tweeted, "All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys SMH [shake my head]." Broussard and Wallace demonstrate that the inclusive policies of professional sports organizations might not be enough to encourage closeted players to come out, so long as there is harsh criticism when players like Collins announce their sexual orientation.

Supreme Court Hears Arguments for DOMA and Proposition 8

The U.S. Supreme Court is in the process of hearing arguments in regards to the constitutionality of Proposition 8, an initiative in California that banned same-sex marriage, and the Defensive Marriage Act, a federal law enacted in 1996 that prevents the federal government from offering benefits to same-sex couples, even if they are considered to be married by the state they reside in. The arguments in favor of Proposition 8 and upholding DOMA are far-fetched to say the least. Advocates for Prop. 8 contend that restricting marriage to heterosexual couples must be rational because for thousands of years people widely agreed that marriage involved the union of a man and woman. They also argue that marriage's purpose is to ensure that children are born into families; therefore, California should be allowed to limit marriage to only those capable of having babies. If you think of sterile marriages between heterosexual 50 year-olds, for example, they most likely can't have babies, but are still allowed to marry, while most gay couples, no matter their age, aren't allowed to be legally married in 40 states.
My hope is that the Court's ruling isn't narrow. If the justices rule in favor of allowing same-sex marriages, it should set precedent for all the states. Prop. 8 could be knocked down on procedural grounds, resulting in the Court's ruling to have a limited effect on other states besides California. I believe this will not be the holding, however. Polls show the majority of Americans support extending marriage rights to gay individuals. The Court should affirm what most Americans believe in, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because homosexuals are people, and therefore deserve equal civil rights as heterosexuals. Sexual orientation shouldn't prevent people from getting married, just like people with different skin color are protected from federal discrimination under U.S. law.

Implicitly not a racist

My racism test result was "little to no" automatic preference towards European-Americans and African-Americans. The test's intention is to help demonstrate to the world that people tend to have an automatic preference towards one race. I do believe in the test's accuracy after reading how the test evaluates answers. Some people (not including me!), according to the test, prefer their own race over others, which is an ignorant mindset. The word "good" shouldn't be bound by race, but according to average results, 54% of test takers have a strong or moderate automatic preference for white people over black people. This 54% ultimately shows that more than half of the population have an automatic preference for white people, while a smaller percentage is racist in favor of blacks. In other words, the world we live in and the people who surround us are racist more than half of the time, and they generally don't even know it.

Fort Hood Massacre Trial Set to Begin

Major Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, sat through a pre-trial proccession yesterday where Judge Colonel Tara Osborn turned down plea deals, saying it would be tantamount to admitting guilt to a capital offense, which isn't required under military policy. Hasan has been charged with killing 13 people at Fort Hood in November 2009. In an age of multimedia, Judge Osborn ruled that pre-trial publicity wouldn't influence a jury. The trial is set to begin at the end of Spring. Prosecutors feel confident in their ability to prove Hasan was a radical Islamist. They have already shown that Hasan had been in communication via e-mail with a radical cleric who was killed in 2011 by a U.S. drone. The issue of troops' mental health seems to be most prevelant today, but with issues such as Army majors turning on their friends and fellow troops, killing them in cold-blood, is a new issue in itself. Many Americans expressed outrage over the Fort Hood Massacre and wish for Hasan to receive the dealth penalty which is a potential option if he is found guilty of murder.

Improper Action Taken by U.S. Military following Troops' Brain Trauma

Lt. Col. Richard Brunk was involved in an explosion seven years ago in Baghdad that broke his wrist, shattered his eardrums, and rattled his skull- it was the first of two blasts in 2005 that damaged his brain. These injuries are impossible to avoid during battle, but the military's response to brain injuries is often inconsistent and incorrect. The Pentagon has required troops since 2009 suspected of having head injuries to rest immediately after blast exposure, a crucial period allowing the brain to heal itself. However, in 2005, Brunk was allowed to return to active duty within hours of his first exposure. When doctors eventually recognized that he had neurological damage, he was sent home for three months, but was treated for hearing problems. He was then permitted to return to Iraq, at his own request, where he had a second, potentially devastating head injury. This flexibility by the U.S. military allowing troops to return to duty after experiencing brain damage is not only inappropriate but also extremely dangerous.