Treating PTSD in the Field

The Army is trying a new approach to treating PTSD, according to a story today by McClatchy. After soldiers witness a traumatizing incident they speak with a doctor one to three days after the incident, something called Critical Incident Debrief (CID). They're basically asked to relate what happened during the incident -- right down to their feelings. The Army is starting to treat PTSD as a normal response to an abnormal experience, and they recognize the value in treating PTSD. Apparently it's cheaper to treat it than to recruit and train a new soldier. I'd also argue there's something of a moral imperative to help the person you put in a fucked up situation.