Researchers link ‘unfounded’ wars to increased risk of PTSD

[unhappycamper]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/24/research-suggests-unjust-wars-increase-risk-of-ptsd/



Researchers link ‘unfounded’ wars to increased risk of PTSD
By Eric W. Dolan
Sunday, March 24, 2013 14:28 EDT

New research suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder is linked to social morality, a finding that helps elucidate the relationship between politics and veterans’ mental health.

“The clinical psychological literature suggests that a key factor in PTSD experienced by soldiers at war is the guilt that is experienced from perpetrated acts of violence that violate moral standards,” the study’s lead author, David Webber of the University of Alberta, explained to Raw Story. “This is why in our study we focused on guilt-related symptoms. In the sense that killing is deemed immoral in most cases, and soldiers are asked to kill, it’s only if a soldier is able to view that killing as different or acceptable (i.e., moral), that guilt should not arise.”

The study, to be published in the April issue of the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that social consensus played an important role in feelings of guilt. The research was co-authored by Jeff Schimel, Andy Martens, Joseph Hayes, and Erik H. Faucher.

Previous research has found that killing in war is a major risk factor for PTSD, which affects up to 25 percent of the veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Research has also uncovered that social support has a strong protective effect.



unhappycamper comment: I did two 'vacations' in Vietnam and I have to agree with this article.

[Victor_c3]

1. Great article

I had thoughts and theories about the link between a perceived unjust war and the prevalence of PTSD and what I call "war guilt". Apparently I'm not the only one. Had I done what I did in Iraq and been able to say "I did some shitty things, but at least Iraq is a better place as a result" I'd feel completely different than I do now.