Chronic pain: Sources framing of post-traumatic stress in The New York Times

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress (PTS) is a common reaction after witnessing a violent event, and individuals who have experienced trauma may relive the event, avoid people or situations that remind them of the trauma, or experience negative thoughts and hyperarousal. When symptoms persist, an individual may receive a medical diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While nearly eight million Americans, including combat veterans, have PTSD in a given year, few studies have explored how the condition is represented in the mass media. This content analysis examines sources’ characterization of PTSD in New York Times articles. Results show that news stories framed PTSD as a long-term problem, with little chance for recovery, a frame that could negatively affect public policy decisions.