http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2014/08/how-genes-could-predict-who-will-get-ptsd/91280/
Interesting concept that seems to be gaining sombre traction.
Interesting concept that seems to be gaining sombre traction.
Genes may tell who will develop PTSD
- Thread starter BloodStripe
- Start date
That's a dangerous path to go down. I could see it as a potential identifier of Mental Health problems down the road but to specifically say PTSD; that's like genes can predict future car accidents.
PTS is a mental disorder, not the same thing as a car wreck, bad analogy. I do think it's saying what you said as it being an identifier though. If science is at the point to start modifying genetics, that would make future PTS cases preventable. That certinally opens up another can of worms though (modifying genes).
Not a bad analogy, you don't need to be in combat to suffer from PTS; Post Traumatic Stress, not Post Combat... Car wrecks are traumatic, rape is traumatic, spending time on here is traumatic...
If they modified the genes to prevent future cases, then those individuals would be giving up their humanity. Empathy and emotion are key factors in PTS. They would be "drones"...
It's honorable to want to prevent it through genetic modification but I think research $ can be better spent on treatments of the current suffering and eliminating mental health stigma.
If they modified the genes to prevent future cases, then those individuals would be giving up their humanity. Empathy and emotion are key factors in PTS. They would be "drones"...
It's honorable to want to prevent it through genetic modification but I think research $ can be better spent on treatments of the current suffering and eliminating mental health stigma.
Perhaps I misunderstood your analogy then. I took it as it can predict those who will be in a car wreck ,as opposed to those who will suffer a debilitating disorder as a result from it. Because you are correct that you don't need to be in direct combat to suffer from it.
And I mentioned opening a can of worms with genetic modification because it can lead to a whole spew of things, like you stated. I do not think what they are talking about with modifying genes to help reduce PTS would create a human robot though. But looking at that, without trying to sound like a troll here (I am simply trying to look at this from an objective standpoint), but could that not be conceived as a good thing? What is the definition of obedience? Would having a "drone" of a conventional soldier in a conventional war be beneficial? I can see many pros to a regular infantryman simply following orders. If they can (I do not think it is possible to yet modify genes as it could solve lots of different mental health disorders) modify genes, could they not reverse it back after an individuals enlistment is over? Epigenetics could be the next "thing" for the military to explore (perhaps they already are and we just don't know about it).
Epigenetics: the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/epigenetics.htm
So I guess a natural reaction to an unnatural situation, and the subsequent unnatural reaction to natural situations isn't normal and is a genetic flaw.
It's the inability to self regulate between the two with time; not the initial reactions themselves. Nor would I call it a flaw. 1/3 to 3/8ths of the population is too large a group to call a "flaw".
Reed
There ain't no silver bullet. A lot of things can effect the severity of PTSD, like how supportive or unsupportive your environment is when you leave the battlefield. If it's unsupportive or downright hostile (like it was during Vietnam), you're going to bottle it up and it's going to fester. For years. If it's supportive, the symptoms might ebb sooner. But either way, once you've spent considerable time in the shit you're a different cat from what you were before...and you always will be. War is a part of your character.
I don't give much credence to these studies. Everybody's trying to figure it the fuck out, lable it, pin it down. And there are different agendas at play behind each study. PTSD is a business for some; they make their living off it. The government would like to be able to inject you with a PTSD-antedote so you don't cost them any money.
I don't give much credence to these studies. Everybody's trying to figure it the fuck out, lable it, pin it down. And there are different agendas at play behind each study. PTSD is a business for some; they make their living off it. The government would like to be able to inject you with a PTSD-antedote so you don't cost them any money.
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pardus
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I'm currently reading a book about New Zealand Soldiers in Vietnam. They discuss PTSD from the perspective of the Soldiers themselves to various studies done. One factor was interesting to me, the guys that left the service soon after combat had a significantly higher rate of PTSD than the guys that continued to serve afterwards. Speculation seems to be on the better peer support group that comes from remaining in the service rather than those that left and had no one/few people of common experience to turn to/be surrounded by.
I've always been of the belief that the slow troop ship returns of service personal post WWII was a much better way of returning home than a much faster flight that potentially has people in their living room mere hours after being in combat.
Interestingly, my old unit back home in NZ would get us drunk the first night out of the bush in the confines of the bush or in a contained military area and let us blow off steam there, before releasing us into the public the next day.
I've always been of the belief that the slow troop ship returns of service personal post WWII was a much better way of returning home than a much faster flight that potentially has people in their living room mere hours after being in combat.
Interestingly, my old unit back home in NZ would get us drunk the first night out of the bush in the confines of the bush or in a contained military area and let us blow off steam there, before releasing us into the public the next day.
I've always believed this to be true. You're "sheltered" to a degree when you remain in the military environment. You get out with the sheeple with little or no decompression and you're gonna be putting your fist through a wall pretty soon.
OR, those most affected were more likely to get out of the service. Pure speculation. Something to keep in mind is that EMS, Fire, S&R and Police have nearly identical rates of PTSD as Combat veterans if the recent studies are to be believed. (I'll look for the links) This supports the idea of predisposition.
Reed
All those communities are exposed to very similar repetitive trauma, I think that's the key factor; not predisposition. In most cases of PTS in which they leave service, outside factors (family life stress) play a big part of it and are major triggers.
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IMO, the more dangerous part of this is the gross oversimplification of a complex (and not-even-close-to-fully-understood) issue down to a binary variable. "Boom, you've got the PTSD gene"... now it's all boiled down into one nice easy test, minimal thought required.
^^^That pretty much sums it up.
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Yes, perhaps even more trauma is some cases, but the rates are (more or less) 10% have the full diagnostic symptomology right now and 30-40% will meet it over there life time. Why not higher, they are constantly and REPEATEDLY exposed to trauma? When people make comments that everyone that see's combat gets PTS (PTSD) it 100% does not meet with my 6 years of working with combat vets for it. That said, I endorse @Totentanz statement fully.
Reed
With respect...EMS/Fire/S&R/Police have to deal with stress issues that differ somewhat from combat. With the occasional exception of a relatively small percentage of LEOs, these guys are not subjected to frequent enemy attack nor are they engaged in a sustained daily effort to kill people. They usually do not have to deal with hypervigilance, sleep deprivation and the physical challenges of combat operations, i.e., humping 60-70lbs of gear up and down hills while staying alert for ambushes and IEDs.
pardus
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No it doesn't, it supports that both jobs are stressful by nature and sometimes involve being exposed to trauma... which can lead to PTSD.
No one is "constantly" exposed to trauma, repeatedly yes.
I agree with the exception of the bolded. I'd say cops are more vigillent than Military personal in general.
Another issue I have is treating all forms of PTSD the same.
Most of us have it to some degree, some carry on with minimal impact.
Some drink, destroy their lives.
Genetic mutation isn't always the answer.
Most of us have it to some degree, some carry on with minimal impact.
Some drink, destroy their lives.
Genetic mutation isn't always the answer.
