Literature Review-PTSD
What Treatment does the Military recommend and utilize for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
What Treatment does the Military Recommend and Utilize for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Throughout the history of the United States military there is one constant - war. Time after time we have sent men and women into battle, and unfortunately, often a different person returns home. Many of these soldiers who deploy overseas to serve their country and defend our freedom fall victim to post traumatic stress disorder. According to the Institute of Medicine in 2012, “PTSD is characterized by a combination of mental health symptoms-such as reliving a traumatic event, avoiding trauma-associated stimuli, and experiencing hyperarousal—that persist for at least 1 month and impair normal functioning.” The research that has been gathered over the years, and the findings that are being implemented from these studies, are helping to lay the foundation for successful treatment of the individuals diagnosed with this disorder. The biggest problem with PTSD in the military seems to be the accuracy and complexity of the diagnosis - and once diagnosed properly, the implementation of the recommended treatment and follow through to help heal the affected serviceperson. In 2012 Institute of Medicine conducted a survey of military personnel, “Between 2004 and 2012, the percentage of all active-duty service members with a diagnosis of PTSD increased from 1 to 5.” The military diagnosis of PTSD is more common now than it was during the Vietnam War or World War I. During this time period, PTSD was not recognized and little to nothing was done by the military to properly diagnose and treat the soldiers suffering with the disorder. This period in our history is marked by a denial of some of the socioeconomic and psychological effects of warfare. Our military operated under a misguided system of 'machismo ' - similar to
What Treatment does the Military Recommend and Utilize for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Throughout the history of the United States military there is one constant - war. Time after time we have sent men and women into battle, and unfortunately, often a different person returns home. Many of these soldiers who deploy overseas to serve their country and defend our freedom fall victim to post traumatic stress disorder. According to the Institute of Medicine in 2012, “PTSD is characterized by a combination of mental health symptoms-such as reliving a traumatic event, avoiding trauma-associated stimuli, and experiencing hyperarousal—that persist for at least 1 month and impair normal functioning.” The research that has been gathered over the years, and the findings that are being implemented from these studies, are helping to lay the foundation for successful treatment of the individuals diagnosed with this disorder. The biggest problem with PTSD in the military seems to be the accuracy and complexity of the diagnosis - and once diagnosed properly, the implementation of the recommended treatment and follow through to help heal the affected serviceperson. In 2012 Institute of Medicine conducted a survey of military personnel, “Between 2004 and 2012, the percentage of all active-duty service members with a diagnosis of PTSD increased from 1 to 5.” The military diagnosis of PTSD is more common now than it was during the Vietnam War or World War I. During this time period, PTSD was not recognized and little to nothing was done by the military to properly diagnose and treat the soldiers suffering with the disorder. This period in our history is marked by a denial of some of the socioeconomic and psychological effects of warfare. Our military operated under a misguided system of 'machismo ' - similar to
References: Aiken, A., & Bélanger, S. (2013). Beyond the line: Military and veteran health research. Montreal: Published for the Canadian institute for military and veteran health research by McGill-Queen 's University. Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2012). Treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in military and veteran populations: Initial assessment. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Izzo, R. (2014). In need of correction: How the army board for correction of military records is failing veterans with PTSD. The Yale Law Journal, 123, (5). Retrieved from http://www.yalelawjournal.org/ Mott, J. M., Stanley, M. A., Street Jr., R. L., Grady, R. H., & Teng, E. J. (2014). Increasing engagement in evidence-based PTSD treatment through shared decision-making: A Pilot Study. Military Medicine, 179(2), 143-149. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00363 Reger, G. M., Durham, T. L., Terantino, K. A., Luxton, D. D., Holloway, K. M., & Lee, J. A. (July 2013). Deployed soldiers’ reactions to exposure and medication treatments for PTSD. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 5(4), 309-316. doi: 10.1037/a0028409 Wilk, J. E., West, J. C., Duffy, F. F., Herrell, R. K., Rae, D. S., & Hoge, C. W. (2013). Use of evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in army behavioral healthcare. Psychiatry: Interpersonal & Biological Processes, 76(4), 336-348. doi: 10.1521/psyc.2013.76.4.336