KANSAS CITY, Mo.– It appears John Browne and other members of Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales’ legal team may use post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD as part of his defense. PTSD has been around since at least World War One according to the psychiatric community, but now it’s placing a burden like never before on the VA health system.
Dr. Todd Hill is the medical director of psychiatric services for North Kansas City Hospital. He says PTSD is a condition where a person is exposed to some sort of trauma threatening their life or someone else’s. He says often times people suffering from PTSD have nightmares, flashbacks, trouble sleeping and become hyper vigilant.
Dr. Hill says the severity of PTSD is based on the severity of the trauma exposure.
“The more someone is exposed to repeated trauma without getting therapy and getting treatment then the more likelihood they can have ongoing flashbacks and nightmares and at times loss of touch with reality,” Hill said.
Sgt. Bales’ defense team says his family is stunned. And while they say it’s too early to determine all of the factors that may have played into the incident PTSD may end up being one of them.