PTSD: Fraudulent Treatment and PTSD Fraudulent Veterans

I challenge the above criteria. I have PTSD about 7-8 on a scale of 1-10. I have been a Medical School Professor and Physician since I escaped the Army. I still have PTSD episodes.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - The Associated Press and other news media picked up a recent story: Malingering PTSD: Could Certain Soldiers Be ‘Faking it’? by John M Grohol PsyD with World of Psychology.

The usual VA treatment for PTSD is anti-depressant drugs. Anybody who know anything says they don’t work most of the time and cause stupidifying side effects. They also try morphine-like drugs which cause addiction and then it is the Veterans fault.

The really crazy thing about this is that many veterans and servicemen say that cannabis/marijuana works better than ANY prescription by the VA or the ARMY. As a result of this thousands of all these PTSD veterans will become alcoholics with death the end game, tobacco and lung cancer and death or any illegal drug they can get or suicide. We have an epidemic of this. Yes, the VA treatment is more lethal than battle in Iraq.

At the same time some veterans ARE faking it. This is not surprising either. The VA doesn’t have enough or ANY doctors or Nurse Practitioners competent enough to make a diagnosis and correctly treat them. As a Frontline Combat Infantryman WITH PTSD, I am totally appalled by this failure of the VA and I am really exalted that these rotten rogues have been caught. At least 2 years in the slammer with REAL veterans with REAL PTSD will take care of them (many PTSD vets are in prison for marijuana use et cetera).

The story indicates they have apprehended 8,846 but their criteria is whether they were employable, working and earning money. Few PTSD victims are so disabled that they can’t work. A minimal PTSD or even moderate PTSD will allow the veteran victim to work. Some are close to frank psychosis. Severe PTSD victims are dangerous for many different reasons.

I challenge the above criteria. I have PTSD about 7-8 on a scale of 1-10. I have been a Medical School Professor and Physician since I escaped the Army. I still have PTSD episodes.

The Rand Corporation estimates at least 300,000 PTSD soldiers and Marines. For most of these the VA isn’t taking care of them either.

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Dan March 17, 2012 5:20 am (Pacific time)

Perhaps an update to this story would help. While the VA providers cannot prescribe marijuana the VA issued a policy of being able to consider in treatment and not as inherently substance abuse in states that have medical marijuana laws (though not specifically indicating PTSD or mental health as reasons for use). Also if a veteran comes in they provide a variety of treatment options for PTSD or sometimes will pay outside provider if service not available at VA or too far to drive/get services. Probably varies by location and policies change too, so hard to say now. While exaggeration of symptoms does occur to some degree (probably not that much, 10-15%) and multiple websites actually offer coaching to veterans on how to do this, including misuse of service to increase odds of receiving higher SC benefits which ends up clogging the system with veterans going to care but not engaging in treatment, thus taking available services from some seeking help, what people forget is "malingering" does not necessarily mean "faking" the symptom or problem completely -- often it only means amplification but enough distortion that at that moment the person seeking the individual cannot reliably say what is going on. It is not the same thing as lieing or feigning, or at least is only one interpretation of that. I hope Veterans or non-veterans with PTSD (or other problems/difficulties) try to find the help they need and get better, and the "how" or means is much less important than the goal or process itself. Some benefit from recreation therapy, pet therapy, etc... as much as the medications or evidence based pschotherapy practices. Depends on the individual.

Dave June 9, 2010 11:31 pm (Pacific time)

I doubt that they will ever legalize marijuana for use by vets or the general populace. I say this because the pharmaceutical industry dumps too much money into the lobbying to keep it illegal because its not addictive and it covers a wide rage of uses for different illnesses. These companies would lose money if it did become legal. I know that with the military right now and PTSD that they have a pill form of marijuana that is synthetic and used for terminally ill patients. From my understanding its not the same and not nearly as effective. I would like to see this prohibition lifted off of us, and allow the use of cannabis as part of my treatment for PTSD. It has so many benefits. So I will leave with this "Change" "Give the power back to the people!"

Roger Miles May 6, 2010 6:20 pm (Pacific time)

The VA still helps far more people than the other way around. My suggestion is for all veterans to get help from some professionals before taking on the VA system. As nice as the VA counselors sound, they are employees following a script. Contact the DAV, VFW, Americans Legion and/or other veteran organizations in your state for assistance. Do not procrastinate my brothers/sisters, do it now. As soon as your claim date is filed you have a claim date that goes back retroactively. Again, do it now! The counselors at these veterans organizations are there for you, they do not work for the VA. Good Luck.

David Bedworth May 6, 2010 2:19 pm (Pacific time)

Phil - thank you for your service to our nation as a soldier. Thank you also for supporting veterans who suffer from an illness. I wrote an article recently about invisible disability that was intended to support people like you and others with PTSD. I am ashamed that the VA once again is failing those who it supposed to help . . .

Jeff Kaye~ May 6, 2010 8:08 am (Pacific time)

Well at least we have you, Dr. Leveque, to speak out for the victims of PTSD. The VA sure isn't helping, although they certaily could... If we can get someone besides Miss Michelle 'Anti-Cannabis' Leonhart in command of the DEA, or better yet disband this useless tax-sponging entity altogether, then we can begin to tackle the tough medical issues facing veterans and all drug abusers AS medical patients. They are not criminals, unless they commit a criminal act causing harm or loss or damage of body or property or life of another human being. Decisions like this (Leonhart) will make or break President Obama and his party come mid-term and 2012 elections. Dr. Leveque for DEA Director!

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