Journal article
Postmodern Stress Disorder (PMSD): A Possible New Disorder
The American journal of medicine, v 128(11), pp 1178-1181
Nov 2015
PMID: 26031889
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The murder of cardiovascular surgeon, Michael Davidson, MD, suggests the existence of a new disorder, postmodern stress disorder. This disorder is characterized by repetitive exposure to digital images of violence in a variety of electronic media, including films, television, video games, music videos, and other online sources. This disorder appears to be a variant of posttraumatic stress disorder, and shares with it excessive stimulation of the amygdala and loss of the normal inhibitory inputs from the orbitofrontal cingulate cortical gyrus. In postmodern stress disorder, repetitive digital microtraumas appear to have an effect similar to that of macrotraumas of warfare or civilian assaults. Other elements of the disorder include the development of fixed ideas of bullying or public shaming, access to weapons, and loss of impulse control. This syndrome could explain a number of previously inexplicable murders/suicides. Violence against health care professionals is a profound concern for the medical profession, as are assaults on nonclinicians. The recommendation is made to change forensic procedures to include obtaining historic information concerning the use of digital media during investigations of violent crimes and murders so that the disorder may be further characterized. Gaining an understanding of this disorder will require a multidisciplinary approach to this life-threatening public health problem. Research should also focus on the development and evaluation of possible antidotes to postmodern toxicities.
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Details
- Title
- Postmodern Stress Disorder (PMSD): A Possible New Disorder
- Creators
- Arnold R. Eiser - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The American journal of medicine, v 128(11), pp 1178-1181
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- General Internal Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000363453500029
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84946492319
- Other Identifier
- 991019168237504721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences