The newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM 5, has various changes to the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Two things catch my attention: first, under the first criterion for PTSD, “exposure to actual or threatened death,” there is this possible circumstance: “Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.” This certainly fits for family members of murder victims; I think it fits for family members of people sentenced to death or executed too. And, second, there’s this: “Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse).” My understanding (from some additional reading) is that this last one is an entirely new category and is specifically referring to professionals who are not in direct danger themselves but whose work deals directly with those who are (or have been). Sounds to me like capital defense attorneys could fit this one ... I’m playing with the idea of writing about this for some appropriate venue.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:47:39 +0000
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