To the Editor:
Re "feeling Warehoused in army Trauma care units" (cover story, April 25):
Neither ignorance nor the ingenuity can excuse the battalion of warrior transition programs. The Army Medical Corps and their psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, clinical specialists and social workers know that well the importance of multidisciplinary therapeutic programs, structured combined with cautious, conservative and destination (for symptoms) the use of drugs.
I feel shame as a doctor and a citizen to read the description of the programs. Instead of healing of these soldiers, these units are worsening their dysfunction, suicide, and long-term disability. The Congress and executive branch urgent research is required. The objective must be fast, he supervised the modification of these programmes in care units effective trauma, in the knowledge-based professionals in charge.
Stephen p. Hersh
Gaithersburg, MD., April 25, 2010
The writer, a psychiatrist, is Professor of Psychiatry at George Washington University behavioral science.
To the Editor:
As a veteran of the war of Iraq who is studying veterans homeless, I am saddened by the conditions of the transition unit, but not surprised. The demands of the military - frequent movements, the separation of the places of origin and the sudden approval process - often prevent soldiers talking with friends, family and professionals, who could be against buffer and help his recovery from problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, the abuse of alcohol and mental illness.
These transition units should not be seen as a place to settle soldiers to be sent to the war. They should be transitional units the soldier to help reintegrate with friends, family and society.
Keith Alan Howey
Brooklyn, on April 26, 2010
The writer was a specialist of the military police in Baghdad and is now a graduate student in sociology at Fordham University.
To the Editor:
"Feeling Warehoused in army Trauma care units" reminds us that in spite of the best news of Iraq in the last year, the United States will be faced with the age-old problem of serving warriors injured in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The combination of traumatic brain injury and PTSD imposes many challenges for treatment. One is that it can be invisible; the Warrior injured still seems to be healthy. It is difficult for many to see the magnitude of the cognitive and psychological damage.
The challenges posed by the traumatic brain injury and P.T.S.D. excessively highlighting the military system unless you create effective military and civil associations. Civilian medical facilities and community agencies with years of experience working with people with these conditions exist in most of the regions of our country. The military must reach these providers and create real partnerships to help those who have sacrificed so much for our country, because recovery and try to find their way.
Rocco a. Chiappini
Greenfield, N.H., April 27, 2010
The writer, a physician, is the medical director of the Hospital of Crotched Mountain specialties.
To the Editor:
His article on life in a warrior transition battalion is heartbreaking. As a doctor at the military service from 1968 to 1971, I have met many drafted soldiers. They seemed to be in less trouble than our current enlisted.
They had a specific period of service in Viet Nam - 365 days - and each of them knew exactly when I go home.
They were not excited by "the glory of war," which emphasizes the possible experience more then killing people.
They had no interest in the military career, so they were under no pressure for fear of not being promoted.
Most of the doctors were also recruits, feeling the responsibility to "protect" the soldiers of the military hierarchy. Now doctors are often their responsibility as allowing patients to return to the battle.
Provide us better treatment for our volunteer military learning from the experiences of the recruits.
Henry Berman
Seattle, April 25, 2010
The writer is a doctor at Seattle Children's Hospital.
To the Editor:
"Feeling Warehoused in army Trauma care units" may reflect the conditions at Fort Carson, Colorado. But working as a supply technician in the battalion of warrior at Fort Stewart, Georgia, transition and I have to say that this is the best job I've had.
Soldiers who take different medications are monitored here. The squad leaders make sure that the warriors have what they need, not more. The table consists of care and experienced leaders who feel that they want to deal with the same respect they give.
Not every Warrior transition battalion is "worse than being in Iraq". It depends on the direction. These soldiers should be heard and helped, not punishment, harassment or babied. The leadership must ensure that their treatment is carried out properly.
Shannon McFarland
Fort Stewart, Georgia, April 26, 2010.
To the Editor:
The article sets out in the form extreme overdependence on medications for psychological healing culture. The rational use of medicines can be a very important part of an integrated approach to serious mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder. But you can not replace the role of psychotherapy to help heal broken lives of our veterans.
We have a moral responsibility of those who have served our country. We provide veterans with quality care that psychotropic drugs are prescribed by psychiatrists using an evidence-based approach. Experts in trauma in the healing professions must play a central role in the structuring of the therapeutic approach in these units of trauma care. Otherwise, run the risk of retraumatizing our veterans... or worse.
Larry S. Sandberg
New York, April 25, 2010
The writer is co-author of "psychotherapy and medication: the challenge of integration" and a clinical professor in Psychiatry at the Weill Cornell Medical Center.
PLANE (PLANE BY MATT ROTA)
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