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Is Gulf War Syndrome A Legitimate Mental Health Illness?

Posted on Thu, 2 Aug 2018

Question: Good morning, I was wondering if any of the Doctors there were educated on Gulf War Syndrome? I retired from the Air Force in XXXXXXX of 2003 and V.A. Doctors have refused to acknowledge the illness that has multiple symptoms the common response is that it is all in the Veterans head. There have been numerous Veterans commit suicide because nobody believes what we go through. I would appreciate any insight you may have.

Answered by Dr. Soujanya (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Brief answer. It can be treated by antidepressants and CBT

Detailed Answer:
Detailed answer
Hi Alcarr,
Welcome to health care magic,
I have gone through your query and understand your concern towards this syndromal problem
It includes a group of non related and non specific symptoms like headache, joint pains, dizziness, gastro intestinal symptoms like digestion problems.
It may also affect respiratory system like breathing problem and may even have memory disturbances
This is the reason it has got the name syndrome
It can be treated with the help of antidepressants ie SSRIs like ESCITALOPRAM comined with CBT i.e cognitive behaviour therapy
Hope this information would help you
Feel free to ask any further questions
Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Soujanya (1 hour later)

So what you are telling me is that it is all in our heads. What about the insecticides, PYRIDOSTIGMINE BROMIDE, and the Anthrax vaccine that we were forced to take? How is an antidepressant going to treat the effects of the chemicals we were exposed to?

It is a medical problem, there have been studies done at Michigan State, XXXXXXX and other major schools. It has something to do with the brain getting smaller and something similar to mycoplasma. I'm not an M.D. so my spelling might be wrong but the Doctor at Michigan said it could be traced by DNA but the V.A. doesn't acknowledge it.

Answered by Dr. Soujanya (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Brief answer. It is not that it is all in the heads, but chemical imbalanc

Detailed Answer:
Detailed answer
Hi Alcarr,
I can understand your pressure and pain in your helpless situation regarding this condition
FDA has approved that pyridostigmine bromide is safer and nerve protective till some permissible level
Definitely antidepressants would help you, but effects due to insecticides has to be treated symptomatically
I advise you to discuss with your psychiatrist regarding treatment
Hope this information would help you
Thank you

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad