Treating PTSD

Lt. Gen. Charles Green, Air Force surgeon general, said the service has been successful at treating airmen with post-traumatic-stress disorder such that the vast majority of them are able to resume their duties. “The reality is, of those diagnosed with PTSD, 75 percent are returned to duty,” he told the House Armed Services Committee’s military personnel panel last week. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) asked Green and the Army and Navy surgeon generals if the Pentagon’s approach for dealing with PTSD was “disability-centric” or “treatment-centric.” Coffman championed treatment. In response, Green said, despite the perception that the Air Force is pulling “a lot of people out” of service because they have PTSD, the service’s “focus is on treatment.” He added, “I do think that it’s a bit of a misperception to think that we’re not focused on treatment when we’re bringing 75 percent back to duty.” (Green’s written testimony)