Ken Kesey would be so proud of the cuckoo's nest we seem to have flown into in the war on Iraq. Inadequate treatment of the mentally ill, the PTSD victims, the soldiers stressed beyond any ability to reason. The consequences are heart breaking. More if you can stand it below the fold.
Soldier Diagnosed With Mental Problems
By RYAN LENZ
Associated Press Writer
An Army private charged with the slaughter of an Iraqi family was diagnosed as a homicidal threat by a military mental health team three months before the attack. Pfc. Steven D. Green was found to have "homicidal ideations" after seeking help from an Army Combat Stress Team in Iraq on Dec. 21, 2005. Green said he was angry about the war, desperate to avenge the death of comrades and driven to kill Iraqi citizens. The treatment was several small doses of Seroquel - a drug to regulate his mood - and a directive to get some sleep, according to medical records obtained by the AP. The next day, he returned to duty in the particularly violent stretch of desert in the southern Baghdad suburbs known as the "Triangle of Death."
Holy crap. Love the benign headline-it bloody well should say "Mentally ill soldier kills Iraqui family after inadequate treatment by Army." Paul Rieckhoff diaried recently about the inane and pathetic VA cartoon PTSD treatment video Cartoon treatment that basically tells doctors that soldiers with PTSD just "need to get some sleep" as well as stay off drugs, alcohol and caffeine; it sounds like some idiot was listening.
Another other good question is why anyone thought a short course of Seroquel would do any good for a seriously disturbed person. Seroquel is a treatment for schizophrenia, which is not a sort term condition.
SEROQUEL is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder; acute manic episodes in bipolar I disorder, as either monotherapy or adjunct therapy to lithium or divalproex; and schizophrenia. Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for treatment beyond the acute response.
Source: Seroquel webpage; (emphasis added).
If Green was actually schizophrenic, he should never have been returned to active duty. Or did they just think he had a "minor" psychotic break when he said he was "driven to kill Iraqui citizens?" Was the Army trying to treat with low doses of Seroquel as a sedative, without addressing the underlying illness? Or was it in some way ok because he only was "driven to kill Iraquis?" I am so sad for this man, whose life is shattered, and for the dead family that suffered and died because the callous cartoon treatments are all that were available.
Peace.