Newswise — "Society has an excuse to believe PTSD is nothing more than a loss of courage or people trying to get over on the system by seeking benefits. With the details presented, it is hard to wonder how anyone could come out of such a situation unscathed." " Kelly Kennedy, Times News Service, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

An expected 1400 experts in traumatic stress studies will gather in Chicago next month for the 24th ISTSS Annual Meeting. This one-of-a-kind meeting will delve into terror in every sense of the word, including the effects of war and terrorism on our returning soldiers, refugees and human rights, traumatic stress in children and adolescents, substance and sexual abuse, prevention and intervention. Plus, it will explore all forms of trauma including earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters, school shootings, child abuse and neglect and even gender issues.

Serious topics affecting our world today will be discussed, including:Addressing PTSD in Combat Troops Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan - An embedded reporter's personal experiences covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be presented. Specifically, the implications of sanitizing media coverage of war will be discussed.

How Iraq Veterans are Fighting the Next War Here in America - A look at the deeply scarred generation of U.S. service members returning from the war in Iraq and the degree to which the government is neglecting their care here at home.Preventing Psychological & Moral Injury in Military Service: Misconduct Combat Stress Behaviors - An informal, unofficial international exchange among military and mental health professionals on prevention and early treatment of psychological and moral injury in military service.

The Warrior as Patient: Engaging, Assessing and Treating the Returning Veteran - A short documentary of combat footage of realistic events in the Iraqi war zone will be shown.

For a more in-depth look at the topics to be discussed, download the Preliminary Program (http://www.istss.org/meetings/ISTSS_2008_Prelim.pdf) available on the ISTSS Web site (http://www.istss.org).

Media professionals are encouraged to attend the meeting. To register, contact marketing manager, Deanna Marchetti, [email protected], +1-847-480-9028, X255. Or, register onsite at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL USA. Please bring proper identification and/or press credentials along with an assignment letter if available.

XXXISTSS is an international multidisciplinary, professional membership organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about severe stress and trauma. This knowledge includes understanding the scope and consequences of traumatic exposure, preventing traumatic events and ameliorating their consequences, and advocating for the field of traumatic stress.