PTSD: The elephant in the trauma bay

This is an important study with salient findings of PTSD in trauma surgeons. As a psychiatrist and specialist in physician health, I agree with Dr. Bellal Joseph’s statement that "active surveillance to promote wellness among trauma surgeons is warranted." In fact, I’d go one step further and say that prevention and early intervention are essential and may be life saving.

Trauma surgeons are a precious commodity in our U.S. health care system. After re-reading an article in the New York Times featuring the heroic efforts of trauma team members, including Dr. Joseph, at the University of Arizona Medical Center after the shooting rampage that killed several and severely injured former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, it’s a wonder that more trauma surgeons do not have PTSD symptoms or the full DSM-5 diagnosis!

We physicians are all human. At times, the resilience and emotional defenses that enable us to stay calm and focused and to do our work can fail us. That is not weakness or frailty; it’s simply an occupational hazard.

Dr. Michael F. Myers is professor of clinical psychiatry at State University of New York, Brooklyn.