Exploration of the barriers stopping war veterans diagnosed with PTSD seeking treatment and the implication of this to nursing practice

By

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT1

Introduction2

Research Question3

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder3

Barriers to PTSD Treatment for Veterans3

Barriers to Service Utilization3

Caregiver Burden4

Current Trends6

CHAPTER 2: FAMILY INFLUENCES ON VETERANS WITH PTSD7

PTSD and Family Functioning7

Secondary Dramatization8

CHAPTER 3: CRITICAL ANALYSIS11

Veteran Interest in Family Involvement in PTSD Treatment by Batten, et al. 200911

Relationships between Soldiers' PTSD Symptoms and Spousal Communication during Deployment by Carter, et al. 201112

The effects of prior combat experience on the expression of somatic and affective symptoms in deploying Soldiers by Killgore et al. 200613

Distress in Spouses of Service Members with Symptoms of Combat-Related PTSD: Secondary Traumatic Stress or General Psychological Distress by Renshaw et al 201115

Posttraumatic stress disorder and health functioning in a non treatment seeking sample of Iraq war veterans, A prospective Analysis by Vasterling et al 200816

REFERENCES18

APPENDIX - A21

ABSTRACT

The aim of this extended literature review is to explore the barriers stopping war veterans diagnosed with PTSD seeking treatment, family functioning and the implication of these to nursing practice. This would offer the health care providers a better understanding of veterans' mental status, so that they can offer help and support to patients with PTSD at an earlier stage.

This extended literature review applied the method of systematic literature review. Limited by certain criteria, after the filtration of previous studies, five articles were selected, scanned, and analyzed. The barriers stopping war veterans diagnosed with PTSD seeking treatment were explored; some somatic symptoms and family functioning were discussed too. The implications of this study were to help the health care providers establish evidence based nursing idea when they encounter different traumatic experiences and PTSD symptoms.Introduction

Eight years after the start of British military intervention in the Middle-East in Afghanistan and then in Iraq, British forces face a mental health crisis for its returning soldiers on a level not experienced since the post September 11 era.

The current numbers of British soldiers suffering from PTSD is at least as high as in the post Iraq era according to a Rand research monograph completed in 2008 that sighted approximately 20% of returning veterans suffering from PTSD (Treston, 2008, 178). Hoge et al. in 2006 also reported a prevalence rate of mental health problems of 19.1 % in services members returning from Iraq. These figures point to a growing demand for adequate mental health intervention for combat trauma, and by extension, a thorough comprehension of the experiences of combat veterans that leave them traumatised. With increasing numbers of veterans being diagnosed with PTSD, counsellors are witnessing the impact of this disorder on veterans' vocational, social, and/or intimate relationships (Bay, 2007, 43). The exploration and specific focus of this study will assist in developing a conceptual framework to guide veterans and the practitioners with whom they work in making appropriate decisions for effective treatment. Intimate relationships are often viewed as an avenue of support for veterans (Tucker, 2007, 22). Research has shown that having sources of support can be an important resource for dealing ...