European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In Bur health stress plagues Accident victims. By Gayle Young United press  victims of gruesome accidents and rape can suffer Itie same Type of delayed stress disorder Hal has plagued veterans resuming from combat doctors say it can happen to anyone exposed to a traumatic incident rape Auto Accident natural disaster said or Merrill Liplin profess of psychiatry at Texas am University s medical school in College Lalion. Most people relate he disorder to vets but in can apply to any victim of a terrible  Pool traumatic stress disorder was first described in medical Likiera Nurein 1980 alter psychiatrists and psychologists reported a disturbing pattern of mental anguish among veterans who ought in combat Dur in Iho Vietnam War since then doctors have allem Ted to understand More about the newly identified disorder which can cause nightmares and flashbacks years after Ine initial trauma is Over. Doctors say hey arc still not sure who is susceptible to he disorder How common it is or How Best to treat it. But they said increased awareness of the disorder Over the past Tew years has shed Light on a whole new class of ils victims people who have suffered life threatening events other than those Lour a in combat when you poll psychologists about what they wan i la know More Aboul Post traumatic stress disorder is very High on the list said to wince m Keane chief of the Depar Menf of psychology at the Boston Vel crans adm is Ira lion medical Center we had seen i in rape victims  he said. Now we have a category to up ilm " people with Post Frau magic stress disorder usually Sutler symptoms immediately Allor a life threatening or particularly traumatic event symptoms thai escalate Over me years doctors said. Nightmares and obsessive thou gals plague tote a Mclim who suitors from accompanying stress and emotional upset in an estimated 20 percent of the cases the nightmares occur during Iho Day and become All too Eal. In these flashbacks victims of the disorder cannot distinguish from their living Nightmare and reality. Doctors say violent flashbacks Aro rare but can be dangerous. People with the disorder also often have trouble establishing relationships and holding jobs doctors said their constant thou gals about the trauma they have suffered make them tearful of establishing close ties. Veterans tried not to gel close to rescuers and victims of accidents Sutler Tram stress during and after tit event replacement friends in combat because it hurl too much when they got  Lipton a disabled Vietnam Veteran said in a Telephone interview. Those Hajj is Are hard to break " some people with the disorder do not experience any of the symptoms in he years after the event. There s no real understanding of what causes this delayed reaction Keane said in a Telephone interview to do know it occurs when there to stress it s 10 to 20 years Laler and these symptoms Are triggered by the death of a loved one or a divorce he said. Doctors say they Don t know who is susceptible to he disorder although preliminary studies suggest women Are More frequent Vic Fima of it if Ian Aro men. But they believe people who attempt of dismiss the trauma who do not seek help or counselling May be Moie Likely to suffer he consequences than Are people who want to talk about their fears and feelings from the beginning. One Way for people to handle trauma is of try to Block it from their minds to not think about it if they  Keane said. The most disturbed by Post traumatic stress disorder Are those teas Likely to enlist help right away doctors said most people who eventually seek help for she disorder Benefit from counselling especially group sessions wih others who have suffered similar experiences and had similar reactions. Combat Vela thought they had to to Biko John Wayne the who me. Scared reaction to very frightening situations Lipton said. Ii helps Losif around in a Circle with other Guys who have been through id same thing and find out they were scared  Keane said patients also Benefit from talking about the trauma Hal has haunted them going Over and Over again in detail what exactly happened and possible reasons Why. Vouge heard of desensitization it s the same Ihms he said we allow them to experience it again but without the Shock the horror that has been plaguing  Rescue workers by Janet d Agostino medical writer r rescuers suffer ones during y disaster As they Deal wifi Ihie ats to their own personal safety and struggle Wilh the decision of whom they should help first says a norwegian psychologist. They also Suiter stress after the disaster. Many of the people who provided Aid when an Oil Rig. Cap i de in the no Rah sea in 1980 said their Rescue abilities were lessened because of their reactions to he stress. Or. Lars Weiss Elk told u s army doctors and Oiher medical personnel during a medical cd Etc once in Garmisch Early this month the North sea Oil Rig disaster was the worst of its kind and 123 of the 212 workers died a study of the 134 rescuers Man of them muses and doctors found that inc third experienced a severe threat to their lives during Ine Rescue one half knew some of the victims and saw them die. And three quarters said icy had trouble making decisions he said in reaction to this stress. 40 be Iccil logo percent of the rescuers Laid Mey became irritable overactive. Roofless or anxious or Felt hopelessness or insecurity during the disaster Twonley percent said their Rescue Atli Zilic s Ucic lessened because they were Overly aroused and restless you Don i tolerate much restlessness before it a Lleces your ability to cd nicer male or use sophisticated equipment said Wei Sash chief psychiatrist or the norwegian armed forces Ana a specialist it disaster psychiatry we see this often a Rescue leaders who have trouble controlling he r lest lossless when they Aro not faking part m the direct Rescue efforts it s not go it Range for the chief of the fire Bridge to throw himself into the  two thirds of the rescuers who had never been in a Lea or simulated disaster said they had problems controlling their hyperactive slates rescuers suffer the most stress when they Are unable o save the lives of children or when a fellow rescuer is killed he said alter the norwegian disaster the rescuers experienced reactions similar to those of the victims Only to a Milder degree he said for example one out of four said Hoy developed health problems after the disaster. In Norway rescuers Are encouraged to gather in groups to Lala about their clings talking is a most important cure he said. Ii is curative and provides the Chance logo Over in Small pieces whal  Weiss eth said training exercises can be improved to help rescuers Cope with stress i think during training exercises we do not Ollen enough arrange the exercise in such a Way that you have to experience setbacks and Start All Over again to master  tuesday May 19, 19b7 the stars and stripes Page 17