PREVENTING POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS IN MILITARY MEDICAL PERSONNEL

Medical personnel in military units are highly vulnerable to post-trau matic stress disorder. They are removed from their conventional identi ty, stature, and social support system, and are deprived of a sense of control and physical comforts. They then must witness and immerse the mselves in the gruesome results of warfare. Ideal training of medical personnel includes training intact units and functional teams, trainin g on the deployment platform, and desensitizing with real casualty man agement. Using stress inoculation techniques prior to casualty handlin g, and providing for post-event debriefing (Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing), will reduce the incidence of combat casualty-induced stre ss disorders.