The Importance Of Measures And Procedure

Between February 2001 and April 2003, many were completed by approximately 9,282 Americans, 18 years of age or above, completed a survey that was conducted by The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). According to The National Comorbidity Survey Replication study, 5,692 Americans were diagnosed with PTSD. However, this research used the DSM-4 criteria. It was estimated that the lifetime prevalence was about 6.8% for Americans in young adulthood. This was a jump from the previous year at 3.5%. The lifetime prevalence for women was higher, at 9.7%, than it was for men at 3.6%. “Kessler, R.C., Berglund, P., Delmer, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K.R., & Walters, E.E. (2005).”

I find it troubling that our Soldier’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms are being discredited by the medical community. It appears as though there has been a shift in our commitment to the health of the men and women who served this nation. These ideas connect to the overall ideas of the unit because it provides greater insight on challenges that patients and medical professionals experience when coping with cognitive health concerns. I do not have any personal experience associated with PTSD; however, the problem that I find in this article is that it suggests the effects of trauma which causes PTSD can be measured by a universal criteria. For example, I believe this research should consider that each individual has a unique level of tolerance to trauma which may cause them to respond in varying degrees of severity. Additionally, a patient’s inability to accurately express their symptoms may play a major factor which is causing this disparity. I recommend that further research should be conducted to

Allen, E. S., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2010). Hitting home: Relationships between recent deployment, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and marital functioning for Army couples. Journal Of Family Psychology, 24(3), 280-288. doi:10.1037/a0019405

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans has been prevalent in the United States ever since the diagnosis of shell shock after World War I. PTSD continues to be prevalent in veterans from the Vietnam War, to the Gulf War, to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among veterans during the Vietnam era was 30.9% for men and 26.9% for women (U.S. Department of Government Affairs, 2015). Based on a population study the prevalence of PTSD among previously deployed Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom was 13.8% (U.S. Department of Government Affairs, 2015). PTSD in combat veterans can be very difficult to understand. This is widely due to the lack of research

Media leakage have soared questioning the height of military veteran abuses requiring CO to assess ways to reduce the national embarrassment and media coverage of disclosing such information to the public (Soriano, 2013). Therefore, the purpose of the PTSD assessment is to focus on developing realistic and doable research to evaluate the veteran’s mental health status for possible substance abuse or potential domestic violence cases (Soriano, 2013). The possible PTSD symptoms among pre-discharge military personnel’s need to examine and evaluate using the mix-method methodology to satisfying stakeholders that are the spouses, children, media, and organizations (Creswell, 2009; Soriano, 2013). The goal is to conduct several required assessments that will help CO to determine which discharge personnel’s exhibit signs and symptoms of PTSD. Considering the mental health status and substance abuse to provide preventative social services needed protect the veterans and their loved ones call serious attention (Soriano,

Furthermore, child abuse has been linked to a variety of changes in the structure and certain functions of the brain, as well as, the stress–responsive systems (Anda et al., 2006). Zaidi and Foy (1994) state, “One pre-military factor with potential important ramifications for development of combat related PTSD is child abuse.” In research by Cabrera, Hoge, Bliese, Castro, and Messer (2007), “Childhood adversity [among veterans] was measured using a modified scale testing for exposure to six adverse experience: (1) exposure to mentally ill person in the home, (2) exposure to an alcoholic adult in the home, (3) sexual abuse, (4) physical abuse, (5) psychological abuse, and (6) violence directed against the respondent’s mother.” Servicemen and women who reported two or more traumatic childhood experiences were at increased risk of meeting the criteria for depression and PTSD (Cabrera at al., 2007). The prevalence of childhood abuse places people at a higher risk of mental illness (e.g. depression and post-traumatic stress disorder), participating in harmful/high risk activities, and having difficulties in relationships (Gahm, Lucenko, Retzlaff, & Fukuda, 2007). Which is clearly demonstrated among our veteran population. The veteran divorce rate in 2011 was 3.7% compared to the civilian divorce rate of 3.2% (Forsling, 2016). Additionally, veterans are the largest population to commit suicide, which is roughly 22 veterans a day take their own life. Thus, each of these prevalence of child abuse are highly correlated to one another, and increases the likelihood of health

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a commonly recognized stress disorder found in many combat soldiers after exposure to life-threatening and traumatic experiences. Since 2001, the prevalence of PTSD has increased with over 2.4 million troops deployed to warzones in Afghanistan and Iraq (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012). Although researchers and civilians commonly understand symptoms of PTSD, they often fail to recognize the difficulties veterans’ face- reintegration into civilian society, alienation, and identity crises (Demers, 2011). Currently there exist two major sources for best practice guidelines in the management of PTSD. They include the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Post-traumatic

Approximately 30% of men and 27% of women had PTSD at some point in their life following Vietnam.” In examining the mental health condition of Persian Gulf War veterans have found, “… rates of PTSD stemming from the war range anywhere from almost 9% to approximately 24%. “In Iraq Afghan War “After deployment, approximately 12.5% had PTSD, a rate greater than that found among these soldiers before deployment”.

These forms are either filled out before leaving combat zones, or within the first two weeks of returning home (Hoge, et al., 2006:1024). As with the other study, these surveys were geared to understanding the mental health of returning soldiers. The combat veterans involved in this research were returning from either Iraq or Afghanistan (Hoge, et al., 2006:1023). However, unlike the above study this one requires a follow up conducted 12 months later. The reasoning for the second survey is that some veterans have difficulty adjusting to civilian (Hoge, et al., 2006:1025). Results show that there is a higher prevalence for Iraqi veterans to seek mental health help, over the Afghanistan veterans (Hoge, et al., 2006:1026-1027). Unfortunately, the majority of troops affected by PTSD are still not seeking

According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (2014), there are currently an estimated 19.4 million veterans, of which 1.6 million are women. Eight percent of the US population has served in the US military and 33% of the US population is directly related to someone who has served (Meyer, Writer, & Brim, 2016). Many returning service members face complex mental and behavioral health challenges in readjusting to life after deployment (American Psychological Association [APA], 2016a). Data indicate that one-third of returning Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) service members have reported symptoms of mental-health or cognitive problems (APA, 2016a). This includes concerns of suicidal ideation, posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders, among others. As OEF and OIF deployed service members continue to return home with high rates of mental health disorders, there are concerns regarding the availability and adequacy of mental health

Post-traumatic stress disorder has always been an important issue to me. PTSD became an interest of mine when I saw the effects that it has on my husband and other Veterans suffering from the same issue. I wanted to pursue this research topic to further education myself, and inform others. PTSD not only effects the Veterans mentally, but it also has an effect on their family members as well, living with someone who is easily startled, has nightmares, or avoids social situations can take a toll on everybody. In this particular topic, I will focus on inquiring information about combat Veterans, families of combat Veterans, and others interested in learning or gaining more information about post-traumatic stress disorder. I will inform my audience about this topic through various reports from past century wars and convince my audience on how post- traumatic stress disorder effects combat Veterans later in life. I am conducting this project with combat Veterans, and their families in mind as my audience. Family members of a combat Veteran may not know the signs and symptoms of PTSD.

Military Pathway (2013) concluded “Military life, especially the stress of deployments or mobilizations, can present challenges to service members and their families that are both unique and difficult”. Hence, it is not surprising that soldiers returning from a stressful war environment often suffer from a psychological condition called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This paper provides a historical perspective of PTSD affecting soldiers, and how this illness has often been ignored. In addition, the this paper examines the cause and diagnosis of the illness, the changes of functional strengths and limitations, the overall effects this disease may have on soldiers and their families, with a conclusion of

Despite war experiences, many combat veterans survive challenges and have new experiences that yield benefits, growth, and transformation (Iraq War Clinician Guide). Military demands and participation also traumatize veterans in the most damaging ways that affect their mental health and overall quality of life (Iraq War Clinician Guide). Furthermore, individuals exposed to combat veterans' trauma, such as family members and loved ones, may develop traumatic reactions, which post profound challenges related to traumatic events of the direct victim (Berger, 2015).

Post-traumatic stress disorder was officially acknowledged as a psychiatric disorder in 1980, mainly in reaction to America’s efforts in order to gain some sense of the toll the Vietnam war had taken on those who participated in combat (Goodwin & Rona, 2013). Military personnel who have participated in war often have an increased chance of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Understanding such disorders in military and service members is vitally important. Post-traumatic stress disorder (also known as PTSD) and depression can manifest themselves through a wide variety of symptoms; both, have a great and adverse effect on the overall lifestyle of patients. According to Kara Irwin (2014), a researcher who conducted various

PTSD “Among male and female soldiers aged 18 years or older returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, rates range from 9%