PTSD IN WAR VETERANS

The Impact of Various Treatments for PTSD in War Veterans

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION3

Statement of the Problem3

Significance of the Problem3

Research Question3

Hypothesis4

CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in War Veterans5

Causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder6

Treatment of PTSD7

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy8

Acupuncture Therapy9

Reality Therapy12

CHAPTER 03: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY15

Data Sources and Research Limitations15

Sampling Procedure15

Participants16

Instruments16

Reliability & Validity16

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION

Statement of the Problem

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often experienced by military veterans that have returned from war and has been suggested that 12-24 percent of war veterans developed PTSD symptoms (Ready et al, 2011). However, diagnosis and treatments have been overwhelming for the majority of the average sufferers. Research shows the connection between veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder and the various treatments available.

Significance of the Problem

The significance of the problem is the treatment of the disorder. Often times the physicians who actually do not understand the experiences of war or the disorder try to treat it with medications which ultimately put the veteran in a comatose state leaving him or her unable to function in day to day activities. This is why alternative treatment is so important for the very people that have we have depended upon to guarantee our freedom. For over a decade now the VA health care system has had more than 140 specialized PTSD treatment programs operating to help these veterans (Ready et al, 2011).

Research Question

Is there a relationship between various forms of treatment on PTSD levels in war veterans?

Hypothesis

There is a relationship between various forms of treatment, defined as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, and Acupuncture Therapy, and PTSD levels, as measured by the Davidson Trauma Scale, in war veterans.

CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in War Veterans

The recent surge in reported cases of PTSD has tested military leaders' traditional handling of tragedy. PTSD viewed as a mental health disorder, and therefore, there has been a stigma attached to soldiers struggling to cope. Leaders, in particular, are hesitant to seek help due to the shame attached to PTSD.

In a past study, a protocol of six sessions of therapy that include cognitive behavioral therapy, reality therapy and acupuncture therapy, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), has proven effective in reducing the disorder post-traumatic stress and other psychological symptoms occurring in a series of time trials crossed. This trial used a randomized control group and the waiting list (n = 13). The group of experimental subjects (n = 19) received counseling sessions with emotional freedom techniques for 6 hours, with pre-test and post-test, and an intermediate test after three sessions. The post traumatic stress disorder was assessed using PCL-M (disorder checklist of post-traumatic stress military), which is classified as a clinician from a score above 50. The severity and extent of psychological distress was measured with the SA-45 (symptom rating test 45), short version of SCL -90. Disorder symptoms and post traumatic stress did not decline over time on the waiting list group (Weiss, 2004). The extent of psychological distress was highly significantly reduced in the group of emotional freedom techniques, and ...