Hundreds of PTSD soldiers likely misdiagnosed

[Contrary1]

"The Army denies that any soldier was misdiagnosed before 2008" :eyes: Yeah, right.

WASHINGTON — "At the height of the Iraq war, the Army routinely fired hundreds of soldiers for having a personality disorder when they were more likely suffering from the traumatic stresses of war, discharge data suggests.

Under pressure from Congress and the public, the Army later acknowledged the problem and drastically cut the number of soldiers given the designation. But advocates for veterans say an unknown number of troops still unfairly bear the stigma of a personality disorder, making them ineligible for military health care and other benefits.

"We really have an obligation to go back and make sure troops weren't misdiagnosed," said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a clinical psychologist whose nonprofit "Give an Hour" connects troops with volunteer mental health professionals.

The Army denies that any soldier was misdiagnosed before 2008, when it drastically cut the number of discharges due to personality disorders and diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorders skyrocketed..."

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38712714/ns/world_news-mideast/n_africa

[w8liftinglady]

1. kicking-will research more in a.m.

[PDJane]

2. I would like to know how long they've been

Sending soldiers to chaplains for PTSD and other psychiatric ailments. This showed up in my inbox last night:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/chaplains-and-religion-su_b_678779.html

This is insanity. It seems that the religious right has taken over a good part of the military, and that's scary.

[laughingliberal]

3. This is one of those horrible, cynical legacies of the Bush years and we need it fixed. nt

[aquart]

4. "Likely" or "deliberately"?

[Agony]

5. I'm sure that Sally Satel ,the American Enterprise Institute "expert" will

be along shortly to squawk about the damage we are doing to vets by giving them disability for PTSD. Fuck her and the horse she rode in on.

See! There she is!
"Dr. SALLY SATEL (American Enterprise Institute): Can you imagine receiving that disability at full and total level, which says to him: You're right, your situation is hopeless and you are facing a life of total and permanent disability. That is a very momentous sentence to pass on someone.

MCCHESNEY: Dr. Satel says she believes treatment and rehabilitation should come before a final determination of disability compensation. But veterans' advocates point out that many veterans can't receive free treatment unless the VA first determines that they are disabled."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128481103&ps=rs

Making the rounds to disparage PTSD benefits...

[xchrom]

6. Recommend