Treating Traumatic Stress Injuries In Military Personnel

Treating Traumatic Stress Injuries in Military Personnel offers a comprehensive treatment manual for mental health professionals treating traumatic stress injuries in veterans. It is the first book to combine the most recent knowledge about new paradigms of combat-related traumatic stress injuries and offers a practical guide for treating the spectrum of traumatic stress injuries with EMDR, recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense clinical practice guidelines as one of the most well-suited treatments for military-related stress injuries.

Treating Traumatic Stress Injuries in Military Personnel offers a comprehensive treatment manual for mental health professionals treating traumatic stress injuries in both male and female veterans. It is the first book to combine the most recent knowledge about new paradigms of combat-related traumatic stress injuries (Figley & Nash, 2006) and offers a practical guide for treating the spectrum of traumatic stress injuries with EMDR, which has been recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense clinical practice guidelines as one of the most studied, efficient, and particularly well-suited evidence-based treatments for military-related stress injuries. Russell and Figley introduce an array of treatment innovations designed especially for use with military populations, and readers will find pages filled with practical information, including appendices that feature a glossary of military terminology, breakdowns of rank and pay grades, and various clinical forms.

This state-of-the-science guide to assessing and treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in active-duty service members and veterans has now been extensively revised with 65% new material. Leading authorities review available evidence-based treatments, including individual, group, and couple and family therapy approaches. Knowledge about military culture, the stressors experienced by service members, and common challenges for both military and civilian practitioners is woven through the volume and reflected in the vivid case examples. Chapters on specific clinical issues delve into co-occurring affective, anxiety, substance use, and sleep disorders; treatment of particular types of trauma; suicide prevention; and more. New to This Edition *Chapters on additional treatments: mindfulness-based behavioral and cognitive therapies, stress inoculation training, cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy, group therapy, and complementary and alternative therapies. *Chapters on additional clinical issues: chronic pain, moral injury, complex traumatic stress disorders, and posttraumatic growth. *Updated throughout with the latest treatment research and DSM-5 diagnostic changes.

A complete guide to an innovative, research-based brief treatment specifically developed for service members and veterans, this book combines clinical wisdom and in-depth knowledge of military culture. Adaptive disclosure is designed to help those struggling in the aftermath of traumatic war-zone experiences, including life threat, traumatic loss, and moral injury, the violation of closely held beliefs or codes. Detailed guidelines are provided for assessing clients and delivering individualized interventions that integrate emotion-focused experiential strategies with elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Reproducible handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

This eBook focuses on a relatively new frontier in psychiatry, the topic of “moral injury” (MI), which is examined here in the setting of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Veterans and Active Duty Military. We define MI, describe how to identify it by screening, explain the impact that MI has on mental health outcomes (particularly PTSD and mental health problems often associated with PTSD), and provide information on what clinicians can do about it. While the focus here is on Veterans and Active Duty Military, MI is much more widespread than just among former or current military personnel. Healthcare professionals, first responders, clergy, and many patients seeking mental health care are also likely suffering from MI, which is not recognized or treated because clinicians are not familiar with it. Burnout among health professionals and those engaged in other high-stress occupations may often have MI as an underlying condition that is driving the burnout or related emotional condition. Therefore, psychiatrists and all mental health professionals must know about this syndrome, utilize the tools now available to identify it, and learn about interventions that can be employed to treat it. Success in treating many of the common mental health conditions that appear resistant to treatment may depend on knowing about this new (yet very old) syndrome.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the signature injuries of the U.S. conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, but it affects veterans of all eras. It is estimated that 7-20% of service members and veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom may have the disorder. PTSD is characterized by a combination of mental health symptoms - re-experiencing of a traumatic event, avoidance of trauma-associated stimuli, adverse alterations in thoughts and mood, and hyperarousal - that last at least 1 month and impair functioning. PTSD can be lifelong and pervade all aspects of a service member's or veteran's life, including mental and physical health, family and social relationships, and employment. It is often concurrent with other health problems, such as depression, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, substance abuse disorder, and intimate partner violence. The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide a spectrum of programs and services to screen for, diagnose, treat for, and rehabilitate service members and veterans who have or are at risk for PTSD. The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act asked the Institute of Medicine to assess those PTSD programs and services in two phases. The Phase 1 study, Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations: Initial Assessment, focused on data gathering. Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations Final Assessment is the report of the second phase of the study. This report analyzes the data received in Phase 1 specifically to determine the rates of success for each program or method. Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations Final Assessment considers what a successful PTSD management system is and whether and how such a system is being implemented by DoD and VA. This includes an assessment of what care is given and to whom, how effectiveness is measured, what types of mental health care providers are available, what influences whether a service member or veteran seeks care, and what are the costs associated with that care. This report focuses on the opportunities and challenges that DoD and VA face in developing, implementing, and evaluating services and programs in the context of achieving a high-performing system to care for service members and veterans who have PTSD. The report also identifies where gaps or new emphases might be addressed to improve prevention of, screening for, diagnosis of, and treatment and rehabilitation for the disorder. The findings and recommendations of Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations: Final Assessment will encourage DoD and VA to increase their efforts in moving toward a high-performing, comprehensive, integrated PTSD management strategy that addresses the needs of current and future service members, veterans, and their families.

Prior to the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, wars and conflicts have been characterized by such injuries as infectious diseases and catastrophic gunshot wounds. However, the signature injuries sustained by United States military personnel in these most recent conflicts are blast wounds and the psychiatric consequences to combat, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affects an estimated 13 to 20 percent of U.S. service members who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. PTSD is triggered by a specific traumatic event - including combat - which leads to symptoms such as persistent re-experiencing of the event; emotional numbing or avoidance of thoughts, feelings, conversations, or places associated with the trauma; and hyperarousal, such as exaggerated startle responses or difficulty concentrating. As the U.S. reduces its military involvement in the Middle East, the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) anticipate that increasing numbers of returning veterans will need PTSD services. As a result, Congress asked the DoD, in consultation with the VA, to sponsor an IOM study to assess both departments' PTSD treatment programs and services. Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations: Initial Assessment is the first of two mandated reports examines some of the available programs to prevent, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate those who have PTSD and encourages further research that can help to improve PTSD care.

This document provides information on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and war-related stress for veterans & their families. It begins with background on PTSD and traumatic events, then describes common symptoms of PTSD and why they develop. The next section reviews problems associated with PTSD, such as depression, anxiety, and impacts on work & family. The final sections provide suggestions on coping with the disorder and describe treatment methods.