Page 57 - January Febuary 2016 Issue
P. 57
PTSD Among Military Personnel: A Review
Vietnam veterans, 50% experienced Leon et al. (1990) found that coping involving
symptoms suggestive of PTSD, and 20% had increased self-blame, and focusing on negative
signiicantly disruptive symptoms (Schnaier, affect and cognitions were associated with
1985). Interviews conducted (Norman, 1988) poorer outcome among female Vietnam veterans.
among 50 nurses who served in Vietnam Coping patterns characterized with expressing
War, found that the intensity of war-time feelings, seeking emotional support, and
stressors were related to the continuation of searching for meaning in the events experienced,
higher levels of intrusive and avoidant stress were associated with good psychological
symptoms. Military service at a younger age, functioning, whereas use of self-blame,
less military and professional experience, withdrawal, and anxious thoughts were related
occupational trauma involving extensive to current psychological dysfunction among
exposure to death and dying were associated Vietnam veteran nurses (Leon, Ben-Porath, &
with poor post war adjustment (Paul, 1985). Hjemboe, 1990).
Army nurses with less than two years of
registered nurse experience prior to their Similar to civilian population, previous history
assignment were found to be more at risk for of traumatic experience is a vulnerability factor
negative outcomes like poor social relations, for PTSD. Wolfe, Brown, & Bucsela (1992)
and dificulty in coping with stressful assessed 76 female veterans before the onset
situations (Baker et al., 1989). of Operation Desert Storm and later at the
height of the military combat and found that
The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment those who had previously reported high levels
Study (Kulka et al., 1990) using the of PTSD were more susceptible to greater
Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD distress. The female Vietnam veterans with prior
found that females had lower rates of PTSD wartime exposure are at risk of intensiied stress
than male combatants, and women had symptoms after the recurrence of a military
the disorder in relation to the level of war- combat.
zone exposure. A study (Leda, Rosenheck,
& Gallup, 1992) among 19,313 Vietnam Treatment of PTSD
Veterans found that in comparison with
males, signiicant higher proportion of female There are ive identiiable posttraumatic
homeless veterans were diagnosed as having syndromes that require different treatment
major psychiatric disorders. approaches (Marmar, et al. 1993; 1995). They
are;
Social support functioned as a substantial
moderator of initial PTSD. Stretch et 1. the normal stress response, is characterized by
al (1985) found that despite clear-cut single discrete traumatic event causing intense
exposure, female active duty personnel had intrusive recollections, numbing, denial, feelings
signiicantly less PTSD than their discharged of unreality, and arousal. Individual or group
veteran cohorts, suggesting that social debrieing is used for complete recovery.
support served as an important moderator in
the attenuation of PTSD.
57
Vietnam veterans, 50% experienced Leon et al. (1990) found that coping involving
symptoms suggestive of PTSD, and 20% had increased self-blame, and focusing on negative
signiicantly disruptive symptoms (Schnaier, affect and cognitions were associated with
1985). Interviews conducted (Norman, 1988) poorer outcome among female Vietnam veterans.
among 50 nurses who served in Vietnam Coping patterns characterized with expressing
War, found that the intensity of war-time feelings, seeking emotional support, and
stressors were related to the continuation of searching for meaning in the events experienced,
higher levels of intrusive and avoidant stress were associated with good psychological
symptoms. Military service at a younger age, functioning, whereas use of self-blame,
less military and professional experience, withdrawal, and anxious thoughts were related
occupational trauma involving extensive to current psychological dysfunction among
exposure to death and dying were associated Vietnam veteran nurses (Leon, Ben-Porath, &
with poor post war adjustment (Paul, 1985). Hjemboe, 1990).
Army nurses with less than two years of
registered nurse experience prior to their Similar to civilian population, previous history
assignment were found to be more at risk for of traumatic experience is a vulnerability factor
negative outcomes like poor social relations, for PTSD. Wolfe, Brown, & Bucsela (1992)
and dificulty in coping with stressful assessed 76 female veterans before the onset
situations (Baker et al., 1989). of Operation Desert Storm and later at the
height of the military combat and found that
The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment those who had previously reported high levels
Study (Kulka et al., 1990) using the of PTSD were more susceptible to greater
Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD distress. The female Vietnam veterans with prior
found that females had lower rates of PTSD wartime exposure are at risk of intensiied stress
than male combatants, and women had symptoms after the recurrence of a military
the disorder in relation to the level of war- combat.
zone exposure. A study (Leda, Rosenheck,
& Gallup, 1992) among 19,313 Vietnam Treatment of PTSD
Veterans found that in comparison with
males, signiicant higher proportion of female There are ive identiiable posttraumatic
homeless veterans were diagnosed as having syndromes that require different treatment
major psychiatric disorders. approaches (Marmar, et al. 1993; 1995). They
are;
Social support functioned as a substantial
moderator of initial PTSD. Stretch et 1. the normal stress response, is characterized by
al (1985) found that despite clear-cut single discrete traumatic event causing intense
exposure, female active duty personnel had intrusive recollections, numbing, denial, feelings
signiicantly less PTSD than their discharged of unreality, and arousal. Individual or group
veteran cohorts, suggesting that social debrieing is used for complete recovery.
support served as an important moderator in
the attenuation of PTSD.
57
