A Multidimensional View On Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

This paper investigates Post Traumatic Stress Disorder's historical background, current understanding, and future directions in the military setting. It starts by describing the Civil War environment, where Soldier’s Heart was formulated. Then, it dives into its place in World War I, where the labels Shell Shock and War Neuroses were given. To finish the historical overview, it discusses the Vietnam War and how PTSD got its label. It then begins to set a framework for the neurobiology of our sensation of fear and discusses our understanding of the mechanisms underlying PTSD. Finally, it discusses treatments, and what role PTSD’s current diagnoses play in the current environment.