Post-traumatic stress disorder and GI endoscopy: a case study.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be caused by experiencing or witnessing a variety of harsh traumatic events. Rape, burglary, war, torture, violence, and other catastrophic events have been known to precipitate flashbacks, nightmares, and inability to cope with the demands of daily life. The symptoms associated with PTSD can interfere with work, sleep, appetite, relationships, and health. In a Veterans Administration hospital population, PTSD is not an uncommon patient problem: it usually results from witnessing and/or participating in war or military service-related circumstances. This case study describes a 42-year-old man who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The form of torture his Vietnamese captors subjected him to presented a challenging situation when he required an endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this case study is to offer suggestions to the GI and endoscopy nursing staff who care for these patients, and to make GI health care providers aware of the special needs of this patient population.