ptsd Ptsd Versus Depression

[emmak]

:o Is depression a seperate issue when a person suffers from PTSD? I can see having depression but not having PTSD but my experience is that if you have PTSD depression is a part of it? :o

[Pete53]

Not many Docs will admit it to patients but almost anyone who has a lifelong disabling condition usually has a co morbid condition of depression. Some of the Meds they give us contribute to it also.

[john999]

You know the VA is big on doing these screens for PTSD now. A few years ago it was doing screens for chronic pain and depression to help stop suicides. Nothing lasts with these guys and they just respond to the latest problem in the news or pressure from congress or media.

[john999]

Enmark

If you have more than one mental disorder the co-morbidity of having more than one disorder makes full recovery less likely. This helps regarding P&T and seems to me to indicate more severe problems for the vet which should translate to more compensation. It did in my case. They rate the disorder that is the worst, but if you have PTSD, depression and agoraphobia, for example, that paints a bleaker picture than just one disorder. The degree that your symptoms interfere with your work and social life are the main things. If you don't go out of the house, have no friends and don't work because of depression that is enough without adding other disorders to the mix. In my experience, the main thing in mental disorders is "Can you work and support yourself".