Video game caused vet's suicide

[snopes]

Comment: Is it true that the videogame Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
triggered PTSD in a veteran, causing him to commit suicide?

He didn't commit suicide, though reading through these links, it looks like Call of Duty 4 and PTSD may have played a part, though it's not definite.

http://holamun2.com/bodega/news/?tag=war
This site mentions a US marine suffering from PTSD who was found dead on Superbowl Sunday this year. Not much detail here, except mention of a game called, "Call of the Duty."

http://kotaku.com/367600/missing-mar...ion-found-dead
This is the cited source by that website, where they mention the official report that he died of smoke inhalation near a roadside fire.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar...tsd-awareness/
The Tampa Bay Online article linked from Kotaku, the theory is that he stopped his motorcycle to smoke a cigarette, and the discarded cigarette caused a brushfire, which he tried to escape by hiding in a culvert, where he succumbed to smoke inhalation.

Hall, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, went missing Super Bowl Sunday after a video game triggered a flashback, family members said.

PTSD may well have played a part - the last article mentions a history of episodes, including one that caused a traffic accident. It's possible he disappeared during a flashback, but aside from his parent's belief, there's no way to be sure (and probably no way to find out now).

Also, some years ago, a similar game was being used to illicit PTSD episodes in a controlled environment as a part of treatment (I believe they were using the tactical simulator that Full Spectrum Warrior was based on). Call of Duty 4 is probably the most intense modern warfare game out there, so I have no doubt it could bring out flashbacks in PTSD sufferers.

[FullMetal]

Me either, considering the stories of my great great uncle who fought in WWI, when he got home, years later, if a car would backfire, (common in the cars of the 20s) he'd jump out of the car, and hide in the ditch. at which point they'd have to stop the car, tell him it's ok. and get him back in the car...

to be honest I'm surprised anyone would let someone who has a history of PTSD play a game that simulates war...

[RivkahChaya]

The Tampa Bay Online article linked from Kotaku, the theory is that he stopped his motorcycle to smoke a cigarette, and the discarded cigarette caused a brushfire, which he tried to escape by hiding in a culvert, where he succumbed to smoke inhalation.

[hijack]My husband and I once were driving to Indianapolis, about seven years ago, when the car in front of us made an illegal U-turn over the grass meridian, and set the grass on fire. I figured they had an exposed catalytic converter, or were leaking fuel, or both.

I have just now realized they may have been dumb enough to toss a lit cigarette out the window just as they crossed the grass.

We called 911.[/hijack]

[Natalie]

Originally Posted by RivkahChaya

[hijack]I have just now realized they may have been dumb enough to toss a lit cigarette out the window just as they crossed the grass.[/hijack]

I once saw a tree on fire in a median in California during a drought, probably started the same way.

[blucanary]

Originally Posted by FullMetal

Me either, considering the stories of my great great uncle who fought in WWI, when he got home, years later, if a car would backfire, (common in the cars of the 20s) he'd jump out of the car, and hide in the ditch. at which point they'd have to stop the car, tell him it's ok. and get him back in the car...

to be honest I'm surprised anyone would let someone who has a history of PTSD play a game that simulates war...

My dad told similar stories. He would be walking with my mom or someone from his base down the streets of Germany and he'd take cover under a parked car when another car would backfire. When I was little he'd always sit with me in the car during the fireworks finale, I use to think he was just being nice to me, but when I got older I realized it was because it sounded too much like mortar rounds. He was over the duck and cover phase but not enough to stay out of the car and listen.

[mizzie]

Originally Posted by FullMetal

to be honest I'm surprised anyone would let someone who has a history of PTSD play a game that simulates war...

I'm surprised that anyone who has (or had) PTSD, or even anyone who's been in a war, would want to play a game that simulates war, never mind being let to.

[CannonFodder]

Originally Posted by mizzie

I'm surprised that anyone who has (or had) PTSD, or even anyone who's been in a war, would want to play a game that simulates war, never mind being let to.

PTSD isn't what you think it is. Believe it or not FPS games (and I've been playing a lot of COD:4 lately) actually do me some benefit. At least I think they do. I know they're much less destructive than other forms of self-medication I've seen Soldiers indulge in (drugs, alcohol abuse, adrenaline).

[Troberg]

PTSD isn't what you think it is. Believe it or not FPS games (and I've been playing a lot of COD:4 lately) actually do me some benefit. At least I think they do. I know they're much less destructive than other forms of self-medication I've seen Soldiers indulge in (drugs, alcohol abuse, adrenaline).

I agree. I've even seen people who use airsoft as a way to handle their experiences in a war zone. It's a way to handle the memories in a safe environment.