Local Expert: Military Psychiatrists Under Stress Too


>> We spoke with a local therapist who says "compassion fatigue" and breakdowns do happen to care givers.
>> FRANK: We're not in a healthy business a lot of what we're doing is listening to unhealthy situations.
>> REPORTER: 30 year clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Frank Ditillio says few situations can compete with the horrors of war. Suspected Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Malik Hasan was an army psychiatrist. He's accused of gunning down 13 and wounding 30 Thursday afternoon.
>>FRANK: It's always shocking. We're people prone to this like anyone else.
>>REPORTER: Hasan's job was to listen to soldiers... many of whom had just come from the frontlines...
>> FRANK: So in Iraq, Afghanistan talking to people who had experiences yesterday. They're still wounded still maimed they are right on top of it. That fies it.
>> REPORTER: Dittilio says mental Health professionals getting their own psychological treatment is a must. Often times colleagues rely on a buddy system as an outlet.
>> FRANK: We talk to our friends... but also obligation to monitor each other when we see things that concern.
>> REPORTER: But in the military where help can be perceived as weakness.... Dittilio says therapists can easily skip own their own treatment. Fort Hood officials say that's something they're working on.
>> FORT HOOD We do have programs to build resilience in care providers. We've been working on that that for the last few years.
>> REPORTER: A motive for the shootings has yet to be determined but Dittilio says psychological warning signs once missed will more than likely be spotted during the investigation.
>> Dittilio says psychiatric's have to be licensed and board certified. And many schools do put students through psychological evaluations.
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