Virtual Reality Therapy Could Benefit Victims of Haiti Earthquake

Cyberpsychology is the study of the human mind and behavior in the context of human-technology interaction. Computer-mediated forms of counseling include e-mails or chats online with a therapist; however cyberpsychology is not limited to the use of internet technology as it also includes cyborgs, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. This type of therapy can be used to treat various types of mental illness including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

PTSD is common in soldiers returning from combat duty, victims of sexual or physical assault and survivors of imprisonment or hostage situations. It is also common among individual that have experienced acts of terrorism, accidents or natural disasters and those diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Conventional approaches to treat PTSD include antidepressant medication and psychotherapy; however recovery rates are far from acceptable.

“Exposure therapy has been recognized as a highly promising method for treating patients with PTSD. Rather than relying on patients' visualization skills to ‘relive’ the traumatic experience, technological strategies such as virtual reality (VR) provide a controlled environment in which patients can experience a situation or scenario while learning to cope with their emotional responses.”

When natural disasters occur relief efforts typically focus on immediate needs, such food, clothing, shelter, first aid, emotional support and family reunification. Treatment of ongoing mental health should play a vital role in the response. The implementation of this type of tool could have major benefits for mass casualty survivors.

In Haiti, for instance, individuals are experiencing major losses that will affect them for years to come. The loss of loved ones, displacement, medical injuries and material loss are all psychologically devastating. In addition, the victims of this tragedy are likely to be disturbed by memories of the trauma and experience flashbacks of mass graves and friends, neighbours and even family members burned or trapped under collapsed buildings. Furthermore, the destroyed buildings and homes, and the absence of family members will continue to serve as traumatic reminders.

“‘Empty situations’ posed by the sense of an absence of personal location, deprives the victim of a safe ‘holding environment’ so necessary for the recovery process. These secondary adversities caused by displacement function as a barrier to the effort required in ‘processing’ the trauma of personal loss.” Rebuilding the lost structure in their lives is necessary for recovery, however efforts cannot end there. Extended treatment is essential to full or near full recovery, therefore, funding should be applied to ongoing mental health treatment. Virtual reality treatment in safe clinical settings could be part of that effort.

Virtual reality treatment is not a quick fix. It consists of many sessions of gradual exposure and it is most often combined with cognitive behavioral therapy and anxiety management in order to cope with the recreation of the traumatic events. It is important to note that the virtual recreation consists only of certain aspects of the event and not the exact recreation of the event itself.

Evidently, time, money and effort of this type of approach far exceeds the efforts of distributing supplies, however success rates are far more important than quick and easy methods. Moreover, this type of therapy should really be considered for relief personnel as their mental health is also at risk from their experiences. Recovering from the effects of a natural disaster is a lengthy process and the treatment for its effects on mental health is an even lengthier one.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Virtual Reality and Other Technologies Offer Hope
Cyberpsychology
The risk of PTSD following the earthquake in Haiti

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It's Not a Concussion; It's a Brain Injury

The term concussion originates from the Latin concutera, which means to shake violently or the Latin concussus, which refers to the action of striking together. It is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. The terms mild brain injury, mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), mild head injury (MHI), and minor head trauma and concussion are often used interchangeably.


The American Academy of Neurology Guidelines ranks the severity of a concussion into 3 grades:

Grade I - Confusion, symptoms last < 15 minutes, no loss of consciousness

Grade II - Symptoms last > 15 minutes, no loss of consciousness

Grade III - Loss of consciousness

Concussion Symptoms:

• Headache
  
• Dizziness
  
• Vomiting
  
• Nausea
  
• Lack of motor coordination
  
• Difficulty balancing
  
• Light sensitivity
  
• Seeing bright lights
  
• Blurred vision
  
• Double vision
  
• Tinnitus
  
• Convulsions
  
• Confusion
  
• Disorientation
  
• Difficulty focusing attention
  
• Loss of consciousness
  
• Post-traumatic amnesia
  
• Confusion
  
• Slurred or incoherent speech
  
• Changes in sleeping patterns
  
• Difficulty with reasoning, concentrating, and performing everyday activities
  
• Crankiness
  
• Loss of interest in favorite activities or items
  
• Tearfulness
  
• Displays of emotion that are inappropriate to the situation

**Common symptoms in children include restlessness, lethargy, and irritability.

Typically symptoms will go away without treatment. Roughly 1% of treated concussions require surgery for a brain injury. Most often plenty of rest is prescribed with a gradual return to normal activities at a pace that does not cause symptoms to worsen.

Medications may be prescribed to treat symptoms associated with the concussion, such as sleep problems and depression. Analgesics such as ibuprofen can be taken for headaches that frequently occur after a concussion, but acetaminophen is preferred to minimize the risk for complications, such as intracranial hemorrhage. Individuals are advised not to drink alcohol or take drugs that have not been approved by a doctor as they may interfere with the healing process.

Observation to monitor for worsening condition is an important part of treatment. Unconsciousness or altered mental status, convulsions, severe, persistent headache, extremity weakness, vomiting, or new bleeding or deafness in either or both ears suggests that another visit to the doctor is needed. No conclusive evidence suggests that it is necessary to wake a patient up every few hours or not.

Symptoms usually go away entirely within three weeks, though they may persist, or complications may occur. Although the mortality rate is almost zero, repeated concussions can cause cumulative brain damage such as dementia pugilistica or severe complications such as second-impact syndrome.

Certain factors may lengthen recovery time, such as longer periods of amnesia or loss of consciousness, substance abuse, clinical depression, poor health or additional injuries sustained and life stress. For unknown reasons, having had one concussion significantly increases a person's risk of having another. Having previously sustained a concussion has been found to be a strong factor increasing the likelihood of a concussion in the future. The prognosis is likely to differ between adults and children; however little research has been done on concussion in the pediatric population. Concern exists that severe concussions could interfere with brain development in children.

A 2009 study published in Brain found that individuals with a history of concussions might demonstrate a decline in both physical and mental performance for longer than 30 years. Compared to their peers with no history of brain trauma, victims of concussion exhibited the following effects:

• A decrease in episodic memory (times, places, associated emotions, and other contextual knowledge)
• A decrease in response inhibition
• Delayed P3a/P3b waves recorded via EEG
• An increase in the cortical silence period
• Reduced muscle speed otherwise known as bradykinesia (slow movement)

In recent news, Canadian researchers suggest that the term concussion is scraped from medical terminology as doctors and parents quite often underestimate the severity of these types of injuries.

“Carol DeMatteo, an occupational therapist and associate clinical professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., says children diagnosed with concussions are treated differently from kids with other mild brain injuries.” These children are often sent home from the hospital and returned to school much sooner than those treated for mild brain injuries.

The term mild brain injury takes on a more negative connotation that concussion, which tends to suggests that the prognosis is obviously good. Concussion should not be taken as lightly as evidence suggests people who have experience multiple concussions risk neurological damage or even Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Natasha Richardson’s tragic death is a perfect example of what might happen when brain injuries are not taken seriously enough. On 16 March 2009, Richardson sustained a head injury when she fell while taking a skiing lesson at the Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec. The injury was followed by a lucid interval, when she appeared to be fine as she was able to talk and act normally. Paramedics were told they were not needed. She returned to her hotel room and about three hours later was taken to a local hospital in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts after complaining of a headache. About 7 hours following her fall, she was transferred by ambulance to Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur, in Montreal, in critical condition. The following day she was flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, where she died on 18 March. An autopsy conducted by the New York City Medical Examiners Office on 19 March revealed the cause of death was an "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head", and her death was ruled an accident. There is a lot of controversy surrounding her death as many believe it could have been prevented with proper medical care.

If the term "mild traumatic brain injury" replaced "concussion", it would help people understand that this type of injury is serious and that it is an injury to the brain, not just the head. It could also save lives and prevent more serious complications later in life.

'Concussion' underplays severity of injury: doctors
Concussion
Natasha Richardson

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Antidepressants May Increase Risk of Stroke or Death in Postmenopausal Women

“The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) of the National Institutes of Health followed more than 160,000 postmenopausal U.S. women for up to 15 years, examining risk factors for and potential preventive measures against cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis.”

The researchers collected data from 136,000 participants that were not taking antidepressant medications when they first began the study. It was noted during their first follow up between one and three years later that roughly 5,500 of those women had begun taking antidepressants. “The research team compared that group's subsequent history of cardiovascular disease with that of participants who had not started taking antidepressants.”

Results showed that the women taking antidepressants had a small, but statistically significant increased risk of stroke and/or death compared to participants declaring that they were not taking antidepressants.

Lead author, Jordan W. Smoller, MD, ScD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, explains that although it is necessary to treat depression because it is a serious illness, it is equally important for older women to discuss their treatment options with their physician before committing to one because of the various risks involved.

The DSM IV defines depression as experiencing feelings of sadness, helplessness and hopelessness. It is a state of low mood and aversion to activity. Episodes of depressed mood are a core feature in various psychological disorders.

Some symptoms of depression can include:

• Anxiety
  
• Sleep disturbances
  
• never seem to be enough
  
• dullness
  
• chronic sadness never seeming to end
  
• obsessions
  
• shakiness when feeling most down
  
• mood swings

Medications used to treat depression:

Tricyclic antidepressants

• Amitriptyline
  
• Imipramine
  
• Nortriptyline
  
• Desipramine

Side effects: Fatigue, dry mouth, blurred vision, light-headedness

Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)

• Fluoxetine
  
• Fluvoxamine
  
• Sertraline
  
• Paroxetine

Side effects: Nausea, gastrointestinal upset, sleep disturbances, headache, agitation

Reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase:

• Moclobemide

Side effects: Insomnia, headache, constipation

5-HT2 antagonists:

• Nefazodone

Side effects: Fatigue, light-headedness, nausea, headache

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors:

• Venlafaxine

Side effects: Nausea, agitation, sweating

MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors):

• Phenelzine (Nardil)
  
• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
  
• Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
  
• Selegiline (Emsam)

Side effects: Drowsiness, Constipation, Nausea, Diarrhea, Stomach upset, Fatigue, Dry mouth, Dizziness, Low blood pressure, Light-headedness, Decreased urination, Decreased sexual function, Sleep disturbances, Muscle twitching, Weight gain, Blurred vision, Headache, Increased appetite, Restlessness, Shakiness, Trembling, Weakness, Increased sweating

“Depression is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death, and one of the reasons that tricyclic antidepressants are used less frequently is their potential for negative effects on heart function. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants have fewer side effects in general and are known to have aspirin-like effects on bleeding, which could protect against clot-related cardiovascular disorders.”

Although no relationship was established between antidepressant use and heart disease, follow-up appointments nearly six years later indicated that participants using antidepressants had an increased risk of death and those treated with SSRIs had an increased risk of stroke.

Even though results seem frightening it seems to me that further investigation is needed as there are several problems with this study. The researchers have not distinguished whether the problem really lies within the link between antidepressants and cardiovascular disease or depression itself and cardiovascular disease. Prior studies will show that depression has risks that are just as high as those who use antidepressants in this study. If anything, the study may indicate that treatment with antidepressants could exacerbate those risks. After careful review of this study, it seems difficult to place blame on antidepressants, but more could be revealed with further investigation.

Additionally, the study does not specify whether these women were being treated for depression or for anxiety nor is there any indication that lifestyle factors such as stress, smoking or diet have been accounted for. Furthermore, the study is too group-specific; therefore it cannot suggest that results can be generalized to the other populations, such as men or premenopausal women unfortunately.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence, it seems logical that women with cardiovascular risks would benefit from exploring treatment options other than antidepressants, but in the end, for most, the benefits of antidepressants may far outweigh the costs.

Increased Risk of Death, Stroke in Postmenopausal Women Taking Antidepressants, Study Finds
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Medications for Treating Depression

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No Evidence That Ginkgo Biloba Benefits Cognition

A recent study, Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM), by Beth E. Snitz, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, demonstrates that the use of the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba does not slow the rate of cognitive decline among older adults as construed.

“The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 3,069 community-dwelling participants, ages 72 to 96 years, who received a twice-daily dose of 120-mg extract of G biloba (n = 1,545) or identical-appearing placebo (n = 1,524). The study was conducted at six academic medical centers in the United States between 2000 and 2008, with a median (midpoint) follow-up of 6.1 years. Change in cognition was assessed by various tests and measures.”

In 2000, older adults that had normal to mild cognitive impairment were chosen and observed. The researchers placed the subjects into 3 distinct groups. Some were given a placebo over the 8 year period. Others were given either Ginkgo biloba or the placebo, where their group identity was not disclosed to the participant or the experimenter. The third group was randomly assigned to either of the groups. Double-blind studies are said to achieve greater scientific rigor than other types of research. The conclusion of this double-blind study is that Ginkgo biloba is not effective in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer dementia or dementia in general. In addition, no evidence was found to support any effects on memory, language, attention, visuospatial abilities and executive functions. Furthermore, no differences were detected through age, sex, race, education or baseline cognitive status.

Basically, no evidence was found to support the widely marketed fact that Ginkgo biloba slows the rate of cognitive decline.

What is Ginkgo Biloba?

Ginkgos are very large trees, normally reaching a height of 66–115 feet, with some specimens in China being over 50 m. The tree has an angular crown and long, somewhat erratic branches, and is usually deep rooted and resistant to wind and snow damage. A combination of resistance to disease, insect-resistant wood and the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts makes ginkgos long-lived, with some specimens claimed to be more than 2,500 years old. Extreme examples of the Ginkgo's tenacity may be seen in Hiroshima, Japan, where six trees growing between 1–2 km from the 1945 atom bomb explosion were among the few living things in the area to survive the blast. While almost all other plants and animals in the area were destroyed, the ginkgos, though charred, survived and were soon healthy again. The trees are alive to this day.

Extracts of Ginkgo leaves contain flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids and have been used pharmaceutically. Ginkgo supplements are usually taken in the range of 40–200 mg per day. Ginkgo has many alleged nootropic properties, and is mainly used as a memory and concentration enhancer, and an anti-vertigo agent. According to some studies, in a few cases, Ginkgo can significantly improve attention in healthy individuals. Allegedly, the effect is almost immediate and reaches its peak in 2.5 hours after intake.

Ginkgo has been used for…

• Alzheimer's disease
  
• Improving blood flow
  
• Protecting against oxidative cell damage
  
• Blocking the effects of platelet-activating factor (platelet aggregation, blood clotting)
  
• Intermittent claudication
  
• Easing the symptoms of tinnitus
  
• Improving cognition and fatigue in those with multiple sclerosis
  
• Arresting the development of vitiligo

Ginkgo may have undesirable effects, especially for individuals with blood circulation disorders and those taking anticoagulants such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or warfarin. Ginkgo should also not be used by people who are taking certain types of antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or by pregnant women, without first consulting a doctor.

Side effects can include…

• possible increased risk of bleeding
  
• gastrointestinal discomfort
  
• nausea
  
• vomiting
  
• diarrhea
  
• headaches
  
• dizziness
  
• heart palpitations
  
• restlessness

Other precautions…

Ginkgo biloba leaves contain long-chain alkylphenols together with the extremely potent allergens, the urushiols (similar to poison ivy). Individuals with a history of strong allergic reactions to poison ivy, mangoes, and other urushiol-producing plants are more likely to experience an adverse reaction when consuming Ginkgo-containing pills, combinations, or extracts.

The nut-like gametophytes inside the seeds are particularly esteemed in Asia, and are a traditional Chinese food. When eaten by children, in large quantities (over 5 seeds a day), or over a long period, the raw gametophyte (meat) of the seed can cause poisoning by MPN (4-methoxypyridoxine).

Bottom line...

It is very important to remember that herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the US and Canada’s regulation of such health products is quite often confusing and inconsistent. Therefore, personal responsibility is essential when relying on this type of treatment.

Ginkgo Biloba Does Not Appear to Slow Rate of Cognitive Decline

Wikipedia

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Ecstasy May Cause Sleep Apnea In Healthy Young Adults

New research from Johns Hopkins University suggests that ecstasy, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use increases the risk of developing sleep apnea among healthy young adults.

What is ecstasy?

Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that causes both hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. It was developed in Germany in the early twentieth century as an appetite suppressant, but today it is consumed for its hallucinogenic and stimulant effects.

Who uses ecstasy?

Most MDMA users are teenagers or young adults. More than 10% of high school seniors have tried MDMA at least once, and more than 2% have used the drug in the past month, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Survey. MDMA users typically come from middle- and upper-class households. MDMA is inexpensive. The average retail price of an MDMA tablet is between $20 and $30 making it attractive and accessible to younger users.

What are the potential risks of ecstasy use?

The effects produced by consuming MDMA can last for 4 to 6 hours, depending upon the potency of the tablet. Using the drug can cause confusion, depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, craving for the drug, and paranoia. Use of the drug also may result in muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, tremors, rapid eye movement, sweating, or chills. People who have circulatory problems or heart disease face particular risks because MDMA can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Clinically significant levels of sleep apnea are defined as five or more episodes per hour of any type of apnea. There are three distinct forms of sleep apnea: central, obstructive, and complex (a combination of central and obstructive). Breathing is interrupted by a lack of respiratory effort in central sleep apnea, while breathing is interrupted by a physical block to airflow despite respiratory effort in obstructive sleep apnea. In complex (or "mixed") sleep apnea, there is a transition from central to obstructive features during the events themselves.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious breathing problem that interrupts your sleep. It means you have short pauses in your breathing when you sleep. These breathing pauses – called apneas or apnea events – last for 10 to 30 seconds or longer. People with obstructive sleep apnea can stop breathing dozens or hundreds of times each night.

Obstructive sleep apnea (also called OSA or obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome) stops you from having the restful sleep you need to stay healthy. If it’s not treated, sleep apnea can lead to major health problems, accidents, and early death.

The two main symptoms of sleep apnea are:

• You’re very sleepy during the day, but you don’t know why.
  
• You snore and have pauses in your breathing while sleeping.

Some other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are:

• You have high blood pressure.
  
• You’re irritable.
  
• You gasp or choke during sleep.
  
• You’re very tired (you have fatigue).
  
• You’re depressed.
  
• You can’t concentrate.
  
• You have morning headaches.
  
• You have memory problems/ memory loss.
  
• For men: you have impotence (difficulty keeping an erection).

How is Sleep Apnea treated?

The best treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (C.P.A.P.). CPAP is the first choice treatment for all mild and moderate sleep apnea. It's the only effective treatment for severe sleep apnea.

If you have mild or moderate sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend one of these alternate treatments instead of CPAP:

• Making lifestyle changes: losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives
  
• Dental appliances
  
• Surgery, including tonsillectomy and UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty)

Sleep apnea can lead to various health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, neurological problems, cognitive deficits, impulsive behaviour and altered brain wave patterns during sleep.

This study included 71 MDMA users that were recruited from newspaper and flyer ads seeking “club drug users”. The MDMA users had all used at least 25 times in their past. This amount appears to be significant enough to cause lasting effects on serotonin levels. Researchers also recruited 62 participants with similar patterns of illegal drug use. All of the volunteers were physically and psychologically healthy and had abstained from using for at least 2 weeks prior to participating in the study.

During the study subjects were hooked up to various machines that measured breathing such as air flow monitors in the nose and mouth and bands around the chest and abdomen.

“The researchers diagnosed sleep apnea by counting the rate of incidences of shallow or suppressed breathing, with mild apnea requiring five to 14 of these incidences, moderate apnea requiring 15 to 29, and severe apnea requiring 30 or more.”

Results of mild sleep apnea were similar in both groups where 15 MDMA users and 13 of the control group were affected. There were 8 MDMA users that had moderate sleep apnea and one had the most severe form of the disorder. Most shocking is that of the 24 with sleep apnea, 22 were 31 years of age or younger. The control group had no participants that fell into the moderate or severe forms of this disorder. In addition, it seems the amount of MDMA use is associated with the severity of sleep apnea as those who had used more in the past had more severe forms of the disorder.

“Though the researchers suspect that the cause for the MDMA users' sleep apnea centers on affected serotonin neurons, the exact mechanism remains a mystery. McCann explains that these neurons appear to help sense blood oxygen levels, control airway opening and generate breathing rhythms. Any of these pathways could be separately influenced by ecstasy use, she says.”

Ecstasy Use May Lead to Sleep Apnea: Illegal 'Club Drug' Poisons Neurons Involved in Control of Breathing during Sleep

Sleep Apnea

Canadian Lung Association

National Drug Intelligence Center

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Paraskevidekatriaphobia: Fear of Friday the 13th

“It’s called paraskevidekatriaphobia: a morbid or irrational fear of Friday the 13th. It's believed that as many as 25 million Americans will change their behavior today because of superstition: They’ll stay away from shopping malls and won't set foot on airplanes. The cost of all this fear comes close to $800 million per day in lost business, according to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina.”

The word is derived from three Greek words: paraskevi meaning Friday, dekatrels meaning thirteen and phobia, which means fear. From a mental health perspective, a phobia is an intense irrational fear of objects, events or situations.

Friday the 13th appears to be safer than any other typical Friday according to Dutch researchers with the Center for Insurance Statistics as results show that traffic accidents, fires and thefts seem to be fewer on these superstitious days.

A “Finnish study in 2002 found that women have a 63 percent greater risk of dying in traffic accidents on that date.” It seems the reasoning behind this statistic is that a fear that something bad will happen actually increases the likelihood that a person will crash. The British Medical Journal studied traffic accidents on Friday the 6th versus Friday the 13th and concluded that “The risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52 percent. Staying at home is recommended.”

University of California Professor David Phillips has found no significant increase in deaths on Friday the 13th when analyzing death certificates. He did, however, notice an increase of deaths among Americans of Japanese and Chinese ancestry on the 4th of every month. The number 4 is considered an unlucky number among the Chinese and Japanese as this number sounds almost exactly like the word death in Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese. “Across the United States, he found 13 percent more Asian American cardiac-related deaths on the fourth than expected. In California, where these populations are concentrated, he discovered 27 percent more deaths“.

If anything people should fear those who are superstitious instead of the superstition itself. Results seem to suggest that it might be best to avoid people with paraskevidekatriaphobia as their fear may be the very cause of their own misfortunes.

Should you be afraid of Friday the 13th?

Friday the 13th

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Military in Dire Need of Mental Health Professionals

The recent tragedy in Fort Hood illustrates the dire need for mental health professionals in the military. “More than two years after the nation's political and military leaders pledged to improve mental-health care, their promises have fallen short at military hospitals around the country, according to mental-health professionals, Army officials, and wounded soldiers and their families.”

This deficiency in staffing escalates all the way the very top where Ellen Embrey can be found temporarily fulfilling the position of assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. Many of her colleagues seem to lack confidence in her ability to improve health care in the military.

In addition, the principal deputy, the deputy for clinical programs and policy, and the chief financial officer post are currently vacant. These vacancies clearly need to be filled as the suicide rate among soldier continues to increase. So far there have been 117 soldiers that have committed suicide this year; already an increase from last year’s total of 103 soldiers.

Despite the clear shortage of appropriate professionals managing the health care in the military, the Pentagon press secretary, Geoff Morrell, insists that more assistance is being offered than ever before. The problem lies in the way in which this help is communicated to those in need.

“Some 34,000 soldiers have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder since 2003, according to the Army surgeon general's office.” The amount of attention given to the mental health of soldiers has certainly increased since the Walter Reed scandal, where a series of allegations against the facility had been made because of unsatisfactory conditions and management.

Since then, the number of mental health professionals are said to have increased as well. According to the Washington Post, “200 behavioral-health personnel are deployed in Iraq and 30 in Afghanistan. The military has also hired 250 additional behavioral-health providers and more than 40 marriage and family therapists in recent months. The Army currently has 408 psychiatrists for its force of 545,000 people.” Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the facility that interned Major Nidal Malik Hasan, has increased their staff by 35% since 2007. That being said, do the numbers add up? Is there sufficient mental health staff available to treat 34,000+ soldiers with PTSD, not to mention the soldiers that may be dealing with other types of mental illness?

Due to such a shortage, many patients are stuck with whatever service they can get. Joe Wilson, a former social worker at Walter Reed, claims that soldiers have no choice but to stick with the psychiatrist they’ve been appointed because a switch could only make matters worse by delaying the determination of whether a soldier should remain in the service or not. This could force patients to keep quiet about poor or unsatisfactory service out of fear they may be deployed.

Not only are patient/doctor relationships somewhat of a dilemma, but many soldiers may have no choice but to accept pharmaceutical treatment because of the persistent shortage of mental health professionals available to treat the military. This leaves most soldiers with post traumatic stress disorder to be treated with medication such as sleeping pills and mood-altering drugs instead of one-on-one therapy.

The wife of an amputee soldier recovering at Walter Reed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD said that mental-health services are so uncoordinated and ineffective that the couple decided to pay for private psychotherapy sessions with a civilian provider at $130 an hour.

The couple sought private treatment elsewhere after spending a few minutes with a Walter Reed psychiatrist, who then referred the soldier to a social worker for treatment.

"It was a joke," said the wife, who asked not be identified because her husband, a sergeant, is still recovering at Walter Reed. "She was a lovely person, but we have a serious problem here and she just didn't get it . . . She essentially directed me to a Web site."

Many soldiers with mental illness may feel ignored in comparison to physically wounded soldiers. Sophia Taylor, a patient at Walter Reed that is currently being processed for dishonorable discharge, claims that amputees get treated, but those with mental illness lack appropriate treatment. “I have a lot of respect for them. But I lost my mind, and I couldn't even get a simple 'thank you for your service.' "

At Walter Reed, a palpable strain on mental-health system

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