Trauma of War: Psychoanalytic Perspectives on This Public Health Challenge

Newswise — Today, we know that PTSD can disrupt an individual's functioning and interferes with his or her ability to meet daily needs and perform basic tasks. PTSD and Post Combat Depression can have devastating long-term effects on soldiers, their families and children. In their 1945 landmark book, Men Under Stress, Roy Grinker and John Spiegel wrote that the "stress of war tries men as no other test that they have encountered in civilized life"¦it exposes the underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms of the human being."

Lynne Moritz, M.D., President of the American Psychoanalytic Association, will introduce the problems and the panel members."¢Kenneth I. Reich, Ed.D., co-director of SOFAR (Strategic Outreach to Families and Reservists) will address the difficulties experienced by families and children of soldiers and vets. "¢Stuart W. Twemlow, M.D., will speak about understanding and helping the community as the "patient" in dealing with war and trauma. "¢Stephen M. Sonnenberg, M.D., will describe the latest diagnostic and treatment issues in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the role of the psychoanalyst as a member of the treatment team. Dr.Sonnenberg is co-editor of the book, The Trauma of War " Stress and Recovery in Vietnam Veterans.

The American Psychoanalytic Association is a professional organization of psychoanalysts throughout the United States and is comprised of approximately 3,500 members. The Scientific Meetings of the American Psychoanalytic Association are intended for the continuing education of the members and other registrants. Visit www.apsa.org for more information.