Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a commonly occurring mental health problem facing military personnel and veterans. The constant problems that plague those with PTSD can cause them to lead a lower quality of life with potential development of depression and anxiety commonly prevalent in those with the mental disorder. This qualitative study aims to research ways to provide positive pathways to care for members of the UK Armed Forces receiving treatment for PTSD by examining United States PTSD programs and studies performed on efficacy of these programs. This study will show what has worked in American PTSD programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs and what can be applied for the UK Armed Forces.
Research Hypothesis
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has various programs available to help military personnel and veterans cope with PTSD. Information collected from studies assessing these programs' effectiveness will be used to provide more effective treatment options for the UK Armed Forces suffering from PTSD.
Literature Review
This brief literature review will provide a basic understanding of the need for a systematic review of U.S. based PTSD programs by showing strategies and programs that have proven successful in treating PTSD and a qualitative study demonstrating the problems experienced by UK military personnel that experience PTSD. This qualitative study serves as the basis for an exploration in understanding what treatment modalities are effective for the treatment of PTSD.
The qualitative study selected for this literature review covers several aspects of why those in the military may seek or not seek treatment for their PTSD. An interesting and noteworthy finding was the perception of importance of having someone there to witness their difficulties. "Participants perceived the importance of having a trusted witness to their difficulties who could point out something was seriously wrong. These supported participants to accept that their difficulties were serious and that they needed to seek help" (Murphy, Hunt, Luzon, & Greenberg, 2014, p. 5). Participants in the study also noted the need for a 'safe space' to allow them the chance to realize something was wrong. This would then provide them the motivation...
One important aspect was that research findings suggested that PTSD was more common than was thought to be the case when the DSM-III diagnostic criteria were formulated. (Friedman, 2007, para.3) the DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD further extends the formalization of criteria as well as the methodological consistency for PTSD and now includes six main criteria. The first of these criteria qualifies the meaning of trauma. A traumatic event is
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is most commonly associated with war veterans. Researchers have, however, increasingly recognized this condition in women, children, and men from all backgrounds and for a variety of reasons. According to Roberts et al. (2011), the condition results from the experience of an event that is traumatic, and that makes the individual feel helpless, horrified, or afraid. A common factor among sufferers of
In civilian life, such individuals will have gained a traditional ethical education whereas in a combat context, such individuals will have been instructed on the use of lethal force. According to Willis, "habit and practice help the willingness and capacity to kill on command. The new recruit or volunteer may, and likely has, the innate reservation against killing anyone. Yet day in and day out, the 'normal' person is
Findings showed that 95% of the respondents' overall health status was slightly higher compared to that of the general U.S. population of the same age and sex. Factors identified with the favorable health status were male gender, married state, higher educational attainment, higher military rank and inclusion in the Air Force service. Lower quality of health was associated with increased use of health care, PTSD, disability, behavioral risk factors
G., when there are deaths of several soldiers or emergency workers of a unit). Combat is a stressor that is associated with a relatively high risk of PTSD, and those interventions that can potentially diminish this risk are very important. But what is not clear in the above is how much the debriefing provided is more a form of stress management for the ?critical incidents? that are very much part
Their experiences emphasize the importance of human contact. They enjoy such intimacy with their comrades in arms and expect the same respect and comradery form mental health and counseling professionals. However, the literature review that was available in the article was more positive with regard to this. A 2009 study was referenced that used debriefing as a treatment regimen. In this program, the debrief uses a specific set of questions
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