Study Suggests Over-Diagnosis of PTSD
A new study has been released that suggests post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being over-diagnosed across Canada, and the situation could greatly increase the number of disability claims which, in turn, could result in huge increases in cost for everyone.
Veterans Affairs Canada has released figures that show 67% of those veterans currently receiving disability for a psychological illness have been diagnosed as having PTSD .
The study was conducted by Memorial University psychiatry professor Amin Muhammad, who began looking into the situation because increasing numbers of patients, many of whom were Canadian Forces veterans and immigrants from war-torn countries, began asking him to sign disability claim forms. Muhammad says he’s particularly concerned about the increasing number if diagnoses among soldiers, because they should be less susceptible to mental health issues as they are pre-screened and trained to cope with the effects of war.
Muhammad suggests that unless mental health professionals become more cautious about diagnosing the condition, Canada could face a “huge economic burden.” He says PTSD is complex and not fully understood, so many professionals are reticent to attempt to disprove the diagnosis.
Tags: disability, post-traumatic stress disorder
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