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var Health_PTSD = new Array();
Health_PTSD.ID = "Health_PTSD";
Health_PTSD.ID_WB = 6559396;
Health_PTSD.sPubDate = "11/24/2004 7:20:20 PM GMT";
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Health_PTSD.appHeader = "Q & A|PTSD";
Health_PTSD.appFooter = "Source: National Center for PTSD, APA, NIMH, AACAP";
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Health_PTSD[i++] = new Array("","What is PTSD?","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
Health_PTSD[i-1].body = "Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults such as rape or mugging, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat. PTSD can be extremely disabling. <p>PTSD can be complicated by the fact that it frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition and other physical and mental health disorders. The condition is also associated with impairment of a person's ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorce, family discord and difficulties in parenting.";

Health_PTSD[i++] = new Array("","How common is PTSD?","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
Health_PTSD[i-1].body = "An estimated 7.8 percent of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with women (10.4 percent) twice as likely as men (5 percent) to develop PTSD. About 3.6 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 to 54 (5.2 million people) have PTSD during the course of a given year. This represents a small portion of those who have experienced at least one traumatic event; 60.7 percent of men and 51.2 percent of women reported at least one traumatic event in their life.<p>The traumatic events most often associated with PTSD for men are rape, combat exposure, childhood neglect and childhood physical abuse. The most traumatic events for women are rape, sexual molestation, physical attack, being threatened with a weapon and childhood physical abuse. <p>About 30 percent of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD. An additional 20 to 25 percent have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives.";

Health_PTSD[i++] = new Array("","What are symptoms of PTSD?","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
Health_PTSD[i-1].body = "PTSD can develop at any age, including in childhood. Symptoms typically begin within 3 months of a traumatic event, although occasionally they do not begin until years later. Once PTSD occurs, the severity and duration of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others suffer much longer.<p><b><i>Symptoms to watch for:</b></i><br><ul><li>Recurring thoughts or nightmares about the event. <br><li>Having trouble sleeping or changes in appetite. <br><li>Experiencing anxiety and fear, especially when exposed to events or situations reminiscent of the trauma. <br><li>Being on edge, being easily startled or becoming overly alert. <br><li>Feeling depressed, sad and having low energy. <br><li>Experiencing memory problems including difficulty in remembering aspects of the trauma. <br><li>Feeling \"scattered\" and unable to focus on work or daily activities. <br><li>Having difficulty making decisions. <br><li>Feeling irritable, easily agitated, or angry and resentful. <br><li>Feeling emotionally \"numb,\" withdrawn, disconnected or different from others. <br><li>Spontaneously crying, feeling a sense of despair and hopelessness. <br><li>Feeling extremely protective of, or fearful for, the safety of loved ones. <br><li>Not being able to face certain aspects of the trauma, and avoiding activities, places or even people that remind you of the event.</ul><p><i><b>Children with PTSD may also show the following symptoms:</i></b><br><ul><li>Worrying about dying at an early age.<br><li>Losing interest in activities. Exhibiting physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches.<br><li>Showing more sudden and extreme emotional reactions.<br><li>Having problems falling or staying asleep.<br><li>Showing irritability or angry outbursts.<br><li>Having problems concentrating, acting younger than their age (for example, clingy or whiny behavior, and thumbsucking).<br><li>Showing increased alertness to the environment.<br><li>Repeating behavior that reminds them of the trauma.</ul>";

Health_PTSD[i++] = new Array("","How is PTSD treated?","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
Health_PTSD[i-1].body = "Research has found cognitive-behavioral therapy to be effective in treating PTSD. Group therapy and exposure therapy, in which the patient gradually and repeatedly relives the frightening experience under controlled conditions to help him or her work through the trauma, have also been shown to be effective.<p>Studies have also shown that medications help ease associated symptoms of depression and anxiety and help promote sleep. Scientists are attempting to determine which treatments work best for which type of trauma. <p>Some studies show that giving people an opportunity to talk about their experiences very soon after a catastrophic event may reduce some of the symptoms of PTSD.";

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