POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN MILITARY

VETERANSActive Combat versus Non-Active Combat

Rebecca ElkinsArgosy University

There are many studies found relating to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, in military veterans of war; however, very

little of this information is made known to the public. There seems to be more information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder being published

in recent years; this is likely a result of the present war on terrorism and the constant

development in the field of psychology. Each study will be presented by discussing research findings and the relativity to the subject of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in military veterans.

Lafferty, Alford, Davis, and O'Connor’s (2008) study on military veterans with Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder posed an interesting point of view. In this study, Lafferty, Alford, Davis, and O'Connor looked

at veterans with PTSD and what it is like for them to reintegrate into the workplace when coming out of a war zone. This study discussed symptoms of PTSD

that could be noticeable to employers, gives explanation for the development of PTSD, discusses

how a civilian should handle a veteran who is experiencing PTSD, and explains what a veteran

thinks and feels when experiencing PTSD.

PTSD in the Workplace

In a news article retrieved from the ProQuest database, written by an anonymous author, are the

statistics provided by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (2008), displaying how many veterans report PTSD symptoms, how many of those veterans with symptoms actually seek treatment, etc. According to the study, only slightly more than half of

those veterans who are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder seek treatment. The main reason

given for this statistic is that the veterans do not want the diagnosis of PTSD to affect their military career due to this disorder being viewed as a disability. The study goes further to say that only about half of those diagnosed with PTSD actually get treatment and the

treatment received is only minimally adequate (Anonymous, HFMA, 2008).

Husley (2010) looked at the process of veterans acclimating to the educational environment after returning from war. Re-entering the classroom once returning from war can present many issues. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of many. One common symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is anxiety when in a crowd of people. Depending on the setting,

symptoms such as this can present major issues. Sitting in class surrounded by classmates may seem normal,

sometimes even relaxing; however, to a veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it can be extremely stressful,

cause severe anxiety, an anxiety attack, feelings of fear or anger, etc. This study describes the need to develop

workshops and/or full-length classes on how to treat combat-war veterans and their families who are suffering from war-

related mental health problems (Husley, 2010).

PTSD in the Classroom

In researching Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in military veterans of war, it seems as if the results would be quite clear. When taking into

consideration military personnel in general versus military veterans, it will be clear that military veterans have a higher chance of

experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When looking at military veterans of war who have been deployed to an active combat zone versus military veterans of war who have been deployed to a non-

active combat zone, the results are not quite as vastly different. For the purpose of the study, an active combat zone can be defined as a location classified as a war zone by the United States government that is experiencing regular active combat that includes, yet is not

limited to, fire fights, bombings, and IEDs. A non-active combat zone can be qualified as a location in the territory of active war, but not

currently seeing active combat and not classified as a war zone by the United States government. While Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is very common in all military veterans, the symptoms of PTSD seem to be significantly more severe on average in veterans coming from

an active combat zone (HFMA, 2008).

Research

To determine whether or not military veterans are more likely to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being deployed to an active

combat zone versus being deployed to a non-active combat zone, the military veterans will need to be divided into two separate groups. One group will contain military veterans who have previously been deployed once and that deployment will consist of an active combat zone location. The other group will contain military veterans who have previously been deployed once and that deployment will consist of a non-active combat

zone location. The participants will be asked a series of yes or no questions consisting of symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as

well as asking if they have ever been professionally diagnosed with PTSD and if they have ever sought professional attention in order to determine

whether or not they may have PTSD. This would be the best way to easily compare the two groups and to determine whether or not Post Traumatic

Stress Disorder and the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is dependent on what type of location to which a military veteran of war has

been deployed. Hypothetically the results should show that there is a significant difference in the two groups which will show a significant

difference in the cause of PTSD in terms of relation to combat, specifically that active combat results in a higher percentage of PTSD.

Results/Findings

In conclusion, a study such as this can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in military veterans. It can also show the public the extent to which a deployment of any kind affects a military veteran. Today, there is a significant lack of information provided to the

public on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the military. Many people may have heard of PTSD, but most do not understand what having this

disorder entails for the veteran and their family. It is especially important that employers and school faculties are aware of the symptoms, causes, treatments, and how these veterans need to be treated to avoid negative affects to the individual relating to PTSD. As far as future studies, a study

such as this can be quite beneficial. It is important to understand the causes and the root of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and by doing so military veterans can receive even more beneficial treatments. Because PTSD is so common among military veterans, many underestimate the lasting effects of this disorder and do not seek the help that they need.

Future studies need to address how many veterans do not receive treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, why these veterans decline treatment, and how the true severity of this disorder can be made more

publicly known.

Conclusion

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision). Retrieved from http://www.psychologynet.org/dsm/ptsd.html Healthcare Financial Management Association. (2008). Costs of PTSD and Major Depression in Veterans. Healthcare Financial Management, 62(6), 9-10.  Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global. Hulsey, T. (2010). From the Battleground to the Classroom. Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 90(2), 25. Retrieved from Business Source Elite database.  Jones, K., Young, T., & Leppma, M. (2010). Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Returning Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans: Implications for Assessment and Diagnosis. Journal of counseling & development, 88(3), 372-376. Retrieved from Business Source Elite database. Lafferty, C., Alford, K., Davis, M., & O'Connor, R. (2008). "Did You Shoot Anyone?" A Practioner's Guide to Combat Veteran Workplace and Classroom Reintegration. SAM Advanced Management Journal (07497075), 73(4), 4-18. Retrieved from Business Source Elite database.

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