Soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Katelin Miller
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
11/5/15

Soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Introduction

The United States of America has been fighting a war for more than a decade. Men and

women across the nation have joined the war to fight for those who reside in the United States.

Over 2.5 million troops have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001 (Wangelin et al.

2014, pp.161). Many of those who joined the fight lost an arm, a leg, and some even lost their

lives in the process. However, several soldiers who had the opportunity to make it home came

back with an even deeper scar one others could not see. They have to fight a battle with their

memories of the war day in and day out without fail. These soldiers have become wounded

internally an illness that cannot be easily fixed.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a great concern among the soldiers of our nation

and the problem does not get the attention needed to help make a difference in these peoples

lives. 8%-20% (192,000-480,000) of the United States veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD

as a result of their experiences during deployment (Wangelin et al. 2014, pp.161). Only about

40% of those diagnosed have sought treatment for PTSD (Wangelin et al. 2014, pp.166). 13%-

38% of those who have sought treatment have dropped the programs to help treat their PTSD due

to inadequate treatment worsening the problem and a stigma against those seeking help

(Wangelin et al. 2014, pp.163).

Suicide is often a result of people not getting treated for this psychiatric disorder. My

brother Nathan joined the United States Marine Corps many years ago. He made it through a

few tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, but came home wounded with PTSD. He was not given the

care he needed which resulted in him taking his own life four years ago. This population of

people often goes unnoticed and the level of care provided is not as good as it could be.
Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health are factors from ones surroundings that impact ones

health. Examples of social determinants of health for soldiers with PTSD are: physical and

social environment, social support, health services, and gender. Soldiers have an environment

much different to the one here in the United States. Those deployed overseas have poor living

conditions. They share quarters with everyone in their company, they get a set amount of food

unless the family members send them some to eat, and they live in a hostile area and always have

to be on guard. The level of stress for these men and women serving our country is very high

due to the high temperatures and constant threats around every corner. While they are on tour,

they dont get the amount of health services that are offered here in the US and while they are

here in the US, they have access to the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center which does not

provide quality care to them. Often times when the soldier has returned home, he/she feels as if

they have no one to talk to about what has happened and how they are managing the situations

they were faced with which makes them feel as if they do not have a support system from their

family and friends. Being a soldier and going to war causes turmoil on these peoples lives and it

makes the events they had to go through difficult to manage. If the soldiers do not get the care

they need their PTSD can worsen and they can also develop many other problems such as

depression, coronary heart disease, cancers, and obesity.

Evidenced-Based Interventions Addressing Health Needs

The quality of life is reduced for veterans with PTSD because of the increased risk for

illnesses, diseases, and death (Wangelin et al. 2014, pp.167). Post-traumatic stress disorder

causes a lot of problems with those effected both psychologically and physically. Those

impacted by PTSD are at a higher risk of developing depression and it worsening faster than
within the normal population (Lazar 2014, pp.459). This is correlated with the incidence of

suicidal ideations in fact, by the year of 2010 the number of veteran suicides climbed to 22 per

day (Lazar 2014, 459). Veterans with PTSD have a higher frequency of developing coronary

heart disease which results in an increased risk of cardiovascular death (Lazar 2014, pp.462).

Veteran women are at an increased risk for gynecological and reproductive problems than the

normal US population (Wangelin et al. 2014, pp.167). Studies have shown that this population

has more smokers and more people who are willing to take sexual risks resulting in more

sexually transmitted infections and diseases (Lazar 2014, pp.462). This population has also had

an increased number of difficulties with relationships (Erbes et al. 2012, pp.187). Relationship

counseling is often necessary for those with PTSD because they often times develop feelings of

seclusion, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, they may become short-tempered, and

they have a greater occurrence of sleep disturbances which causes turmoil on the relationship

(Erbes et al. 2012, pp.187).

There have been many studies conducted for the treatment of PTSD in veterans. There

have been many difficulties in treating the psychiatric disorder because studies have found that

veterans have become less receptive to treatments than an average civilian with PTSD

(Wangelian et al. 2014, pp.162). Due to this fact, veterans have exhibited poorer responses to

treatments (Wangelian et al. 2014, pp.162). One treatment has been discovered however.

Prolonged exposure therapy is more effective in veterans than in the civilian population

(Wangelian et al. 2014, pp.163). This therapy requires the patient to confront the memories and

situations to help reduce the level of anxiety, pain, and undesirable thoughts about the situations

encountered (Wangelian et al. 2014, pp.162). Other methods of treatment consist of treating the

comorbidities (coronary heart disease, cancer, obesity, etc.), provide counseling for relationships
and to reacclimatize to the general population way of life, and to treat with psychotherapy in

conjunction with psychotropic medications (Lazar 2014, pp.467-468). Therapies are offered

while the soldiers are deployed through telehealth to provide counseling to help make their

deployment go over smoother, but this is very limited due to the lack of VA personnel

(Wangelian et al. 2014, pp.163).

Reaching the globally accepted Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2015 is

extremely important for this population. Goal 8 (develop a global partnership for development)

is extremely pertinent to soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder because their goal is to

increase technology and communication. Achieving this goal will improve access to telehealth

for those who are deployed as well as those who want therapy in the comfort in their own home

and there will also be more awareness due to the increase of educational and collaborative

learning programs to get veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder the assistance they need.

Global Approach in Addressing Health for All

There are some global approaches that can be taken to help treat post-traumatic stress

disorder in soldiers and veterans. Telehealth can be a great resource for providing global care.

Psychiatric counseling will be available anywhere with a licensed psychiatrist. Having

psychiatrists alongside the doctor on site with the deployed troops could also be a great resource

to getting the soldiers the care they need. Although there is a lasting stigma present associated

with mental health, talking about the problems associated with being deployed can help

relinquish that stigma. Soldiers believe that seeking therapy for a mental illness offered in the

combat area associates them with personal weakness to their peers and superiors (Wangelin et al.

2014, pp.165). Taking the step to talk about mental health and eradicating that barrier will help

more soldiers seek the help they need. Another barrier stopping soldiers from treatment is the
VA health system. Personnel working for the VA are not trained for PTSD cases (Wangelin et al.

2014, pp.166). Training those working in the VA facilities to manage PTSD cases will definitely

help improve the treatment therapy for the patients seeking help. Another barrier to treating the

soldiers is that they will get treated and get sent right back into combat which increases their risk

of developing a more severe form of PTSD (Wangelin et al. 2014 pp.164). Solving this barrier

will be difficult, but teaching the patients coping mechanisms and continuing their treatment

while deployed through telehealth will help. The more severe cases may need to stay out of

combat longer than others to prevent the PTSD from coming back.

Conclusion

All in all, soldiers and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder is a problem that needs

to be targeted to be taken care of. Those who fight for our country should not have to live with

the psychological mishaps they have had to endure. Tackling the barriers preventing them from

getting care is the first step to progressing to a healthier military.

References

Erbes, R. C, Meis, A. L, Polusny, A. M., Comptom S. J., & MacDermid Wadsworth, S.

(2012). An examination of PTSD symptoms and relationship functioning in U.S. soldiers of the

Iraq war over time Journal of Traumatic Stress, 25, 187-190. Doi: 10.1002/jts.21689

Lazar, G. S. (2014). The mental health needs of military service members and veterans

Psychodynamic Psychiatry, 42(3), 459-478.

Wangelin, C. B. & Tuerk, W. P. (2014). PTSD in active combat soldiers: to treat of not to

treat Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 161-167.

Course Objectives: 2 & 4

Explore current nursing issues, policies, and research related to reducing health disparities in
underserved populations
Examine the literature to identify evidence-based interventions designed to reduce health disparities

Follow the rubric diligently to answer all aspects and components of your paper to achieve total
points. Ensure the body of your paper is 3 to 5 pages excluding the face and reference pages.
Students are required to reference at least 3 journal articles from the last 5 years, in addition to
the use of your text book and websites.

Criteria
Section 1 15 10
Introduction The introduction is captivating as it The introduction lacks The introdu
reflects on the meaning of captivation but clearly states the meaning o
vulnerable population. meaning of vulnerable population
Identifies a vulnerable population population. identificatio
and states the reason for the Identifies a vulnerable population
choice. population but lacks reason for
choice.

Conclusion The conclusion is clearly defined The conclusion is recognizable No conclus

summarizing the key factors
influencing the health status of the
identified vulnerable population.
Section 2 30
and attempts to summarize the presented.
key factors influencing the
health status of the identified
vulnerable population.
20
Social The writer Identifies and reflects The writer identifies the social The writer
Determinants of on the social determinants of determinants of health. determinan
Health health as depicted in the literature. The writer provides minimal discussing
The writer discusses in detail the discussion relating health health outc
relationship between social health determinants to health identified v
determinants and health outcomes outcomes and fails to link it to population
for the identified vulnerable the identified vulnerable
population. population.
Section 3 30 20
Evidence-based The writer identifies evidence- The writer identifies evidence- The writer
Interventions based interventions addressing based interventions addressing based inte
the health needs of the identified health needs in general. linking them
addressing Health
vulnerable population. The writer speaks to MDGs vulnerable
Needs The writer states and relates the with no relation to the identified depicts a la
significance of meeting the related vulnerable population. regarding M
MDGs in improving health
outcomes for the identified
vulnerable population.

Section 4 15 10
Global Approach The writer identifies and reflects The writer mentions but The writer
in Addressing on two global approaches in provides minimal reflection on reflection o
eradicating barriers to health. one or two global approaches in approach i
Health for All
The writer relates the significance eradicating barriers and barriers an
of eradicating the chosen health promoting health for all. for all.
barriers in promoting optimal
health for all.

Section 5 10 5
Writing and The paper is without grammatical A few spelling and/or The paper
Presentation and spelling errors. APA format is grammatical errors noted. Writer evidence o
evident. makes an attempt at APA has numer
format. no evidenc

**Assignments turned in late will be graded as above and then have point deduction taken per
syllabus.