War veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder could one day be eligible for the Purple Heart, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the idea “is clearly something that needs to be looked

PTSD was formally recognised as a medical condition in 1980. The term was used to describe severe emotional and psychological trauma suffered by Vietnam war veterans.

According to a study by research institution Rand Corp, 300,000 of the military personnel who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan have symptoms of the disorder.

While the Pentagon isn’t considering a change that would make soldiers with mental wounds eligible for Purple Heart, a reward reserved for those who were wounded or killed in actions, the idea has many supporters.

Awarding the medal to PTSD victims would reduce the social stigma that surrounds the condition, say supporters. They believe such official recognition of the disorder’s severity would help disperse the perjury that this is a ‘wound not worthy’. It would also encourage soldiers with mental problems to seek professional help without fear of crippling their career.

Opponents of the plan believe the Purple Heart should be reserved for physical wounds received only in combat. Some veterans diagnosed with PTSD have never seen combat. The condition may even be faked – unlike a physical wound.