Press Play with Madeleine Brand
A Debate Over How to Treat Traumatized Vets
In his State of the Union speech last week, President Obama said that fewer than 15,000 troops are left in Iraq and Afghanistan. But many of the hundreds of thousands that have served are still fighting their own personal battles here at home.
By Madeleine Brand • • 1 min readIn his State of the Union speech last week, President Obama said that fewer than 15,000 troops are left in Iraq and Afghanistan. But many of the hundreds of thousands that have served are still fighting their own personal battles here at home. As many as 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from some form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PSTD. The Veteran’s Administration favors a treatment called “prolonged exposure therapy,” which involves re-living trauma. But at least one vet says the therapy not only didn’t help him, but actually made things worse. We hear from both sides.
