Military Experiment Aims To Predict PTSD

Two days prior to heading to war, a Marine Private First Class sat staring at a computer monitor inside a trailer in the Mojave Desert. A sequence of contrasting images flashed on the screen.

One sequence of images included an image of smiling kids embracing a soldier, followed by those of a dog smelling blood oozing from a corpse, Cameron Diaz posing in revealing clothes, and troops cowering in safety during an ambush. A researcher tracked the Marines stress levels and the frequency of his blinking. Electrode wires dangled from his pinky finger and his eye.

The Private was taking part in a military experiment attempting to predict who is likelier to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is hoped that understanding the underlying triggers for the condition could bring early help to soldiers who return psychologically wounded.

PTSD is a crippling anxiety disorder triggered by a traumatic event, such as an automobile accident, a sexual assault, or combat. It is thought to affect up to 20 percent of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Military doctors are puzzled as to why certain combatants exposed to blood shed and bombings become traumatized while others who experience similar circumstances seem to shrug it off.

While some factors, such as childhood abuse, a history of mental illness, and the severity of the trauma have been identified as potential risk factors, others, such as having a social net, and relying on a coping strategy seem to offer some protection. But none have served as reliable predictors.

There is an urgency to find some answers. Since the terrorist attacks on 2001, more than 1.8 million troops have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan, and 35,000 more are slated for deployment in Afghanistan in the next few months.

Research published in 2008 on adult survivors of child abuse indicated that certain gene variations possibly contributed to PTSD risk. Some researchers believe that there may be other gene variants that could affect the chance for developing PTSD.

The newer PTSD studies are using technology to try to detect early signs. Combatants from select Army and Marine units are undergoing a series of mental and physical tests, including brain imaging, stress exams, and genetic testing, prior to deployment. Follow-up testing will then take place in war zones and upon their return.

According to the 1st Marine Division's top doctor, Cmdr. Bryan Schumacher, the purpose of the studies is not to bar someone from service. It is hoped that those who are more vulnerable to PTSD will be able to get special training to reduce their risk.