Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Military Veteran

1994 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Friedman ◽  
Paula P. Schnurr ◽  
Annmarie McDonagh-Coyle
2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1400-1409 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Rafferty ◽  
P. E. Cawkill ◽  
S. A. M. Stevelink ◽  
K. Greenberg ◽  
N. Greenberg

AbstractBackgroundDementia is currently incurable, irreversible and a major cause of disability for the world's older population. The association between mental health difficulties, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), and dementia has a long history within the civilian population. Despite the increased importance of this link within the military veteran population, who suffer a greater propensity of mental health difficulties and consist largely of over 65s, attention is only recently being paid to the salience of such an association for this group. This paper aims to explore the relationship between PTSD and MDD with dementia within the military veteran population.MethodA systematic review was conducted on articles from 1990 to July 2016 on MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSCO and Web of Science electronic databases with an update conducted in February 2017.ResultsSix empirical studies were identified from the review, the majority of which originated from the USA. Five of the studies asserted that veterans with a diagnosis of either PTSD or MDD are at a significantly greater risk of developing dementia than ‘healthy’ controls. The final study, conducted in Australia, found only a small, but non-significant, correlation between earlier MDD and future dementia, but no concurrent correlation.ConclusionsWhile causality cannot be determined, it is likely that PTSD and depressive disorders are related to an increased risk of dementia in military veterans. Potential pathological explanations and risk factors are reviewed and the clinical and neuroscience implications of these findings are explored.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Cameron Hicks

Background: Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol comorbidity is becoming a rising issue within the military veteran community highlighted by research indicating individuals diagnosed with PTSD are more likely to have a drinking problem [1]. The implementation of meditation as an alternative form of stress release was aimed at reducing PTSD symptomology and therefor reducing factors that lead to drinking.Methods: A single veteran was recruited to complete a two-week intervention. The participant completed a behavioural diary noting alcohol consumption and mood respectively. During the middle of the study, an interview was undertaken to determine reasons of alcohol consumption and potential reasons and motivations for the cessation of drinking.Results: A moderate correlation between using meditation as a tool to reduce alcohol consumption in veterans with PTSD however this was not significant. Conversely, meditation was able to reduce PTSD symptomology.Conclusions: These results indicate that an alternative to drinking can be implemented as a successful form of treatment. However, these findings are specific to this study and need to be amplified and reproduced to determine if it can be applied to the general population.


JRSM Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 205427041769272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C Jenkins ◽  
Sharon AM Stevelink ◽  
Nicola T Fear

Objective To investigate the self-rated health of the UK military and explore factors associated with poor self-rated health. Compare self-rated health of the military to the general population. Design A cohort study. Participants A total of 7626 serving and ex-serving UK military personnel, aged between 25 and 49; 19,452,300 civilians from England and Wales. Setting United Kingdom (military), England and Wales (civilians). Main outcome measures Self rated health for both populations. Additional data for the military sample included measures of symptoms of common mental disorder (General Health Questionnaire-12), probable post-traumatic stress disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder checklist Civilian Version), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), smoking behaviour, history of self-harm and body mass index. Results In the military sample, poor self-rated health was significantly associated with: common mental disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology, a history of self-harm, being obese, older age (ages 35–49) and current smoking status. However, the majority of military personnel report good health, with levels of poor self-rated health (13%) not significantly different to those reported by the general population (12.1%). Conclusions Self-rated health appears to relate to aspects of both physical and psychological health. The link between poor self-rated health and psychological ill-health emphasises the need for military support services to continue addressing mental health problems.


HUMANITARIUM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-178
Author(s):  
Yulianna Yasenchuk

The article outlines the main aspects of provision of rehabilitation services for servicemen and participants in the antiterrorist operation. The concept of psychological rehabilitation in the context of a systematic approach is considered in details and its main features are formed. Special attention is paid to the study of previous work, to the mechanism of providing rehabilitation services to all servicemen. In the context of the current tasks, the legal base on this issue, the approved and priority initiatives was investigated. The most frequent distribution among the demobilized soldiers of antiterrorist operation is occupied by people with the main characteristics of post-traumatic stress disorder. The percentage correlation with such features in 2015-2017 was investigated and the main aspects of the mechanism of ensuring the full maintenance of social support were formed.Military actions and the conduct of the antiterrorist operation led to increase in the number of psychological stress disorders among the military. In the course of work we managed to find out that since the beginning of the antiterrorist operation and to date, the system of psychological rehabilitation of the military is gradually improving, but the question remains its effective functioning and compliance with world standards.After returning to a peaceful life, soldiers should be involved in rehabilitation activities and receive comprehensive complex rehabilitation in accordance with individual programs.The question was also raised on the issue of soldiers with post-traumatic stress, who had undergone rehabilitation and rehabilitation and required long-term social support. The most effective in reducing the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder is the integration of the soldiers’ negative experience in order to use it for personal growth, self-development, self-realization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 256-262
Author(s):  
Louise Morgan ◽  
Dominic Aldington

Introduction: Chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are strongly correlated in military veteran populations. The aim of this article is to review what is known about the comorbidity of the two conditions. Methods: A literature search was carried out to establish evidence for current explanatory models of why the two conditions frequently co-occur, the most appropriate treatments and current UK service provision for veterans and to identify gaps in research. Results: Chronic pain and PTSD share a number of features, yet the mechanisms behind their comorbidity are not well understood, and while each condition alone has extensive literature, there is limited evidence to support specific care and treatment for the two conditions simultaneously. In addition, there is currently no UK data for veterans with comorbid chronic pain and PTSD so it is not possible to gauge the numbers affected or to predict the numbers who will be affected in the future, and there appear to be no co-located services within the United Kingdom for the management of the two conditions simultaneously in this population. Conclusion: This review highlights a paucity of evidence in all areas of comorbid chronic pain and PTSD. Further work needs to consider fully the nature of the event that led to the development of the two conditions and examine further the possible mechanisms involved, and clinics need to establish routine and systematic evaluations of how any interventions work in practice.


Author(s):  
Calyn Crow

This chapter will describe how SFBT has been used in the military. Many people in the military have experienced some type of trauma throughout their lifetime. However, the military culture itself has not historically embraced or taught the importance of mental health or emotional well-being and are taught not to cry. This chapter discusses how using SFBT is effective in a culture where clients are not always allowed to show emotion. Solution-focused questions allow clients to quickly explore what is important to them, what it is they want or need currently, and how they are going to move forward. The chapter stresses the importance of not fixing what is not broken and how the solution is not necessarily related to the problem.


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