...a member or veteran of our United States military, who may or may not have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although PTSD is not a new condition and affects all walks of life and occupations, including child abuse victims to emergency responders, focus for gun control is on those that have recently been diagnosed with PTSD after serving our country in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. PTSD is a condition naturally resulting from trauma exposure and not exclusive to American military service members. An estimated 8% of Americans will experience PTSD. Women are twice as likely as men to develop symptoms and seven million U.S adults (3.6%) have PTSD during the course of a given year. Intense feelings of fear, helplessness and stress patients endure can be caused by physical, emotional, sexual abuse, or drug addiction. Exposure to occupational horror, violence, grief or trauma, including law enforcement, medical professionals, emergency workers and soldiers, can all cause PTSD. It is a natural, human response to tragedy or suffering. (Madison). Although the right to bear arms is a constitutional right, the extension of these rights to those in society that have a mental illness, specifically focusing on veterans with PTSD, have been questioned. While some people feel that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars all have PTSD and should not have access to assault weapons, others feel that “members and...
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... Stein, Koenen, and McLaughlin in a recent community study observed that trauma exposure is higher in lower- income countries, compared with high-income countries, and countries with post conflict settings reveled the highest rates of trauma exposure compared (2015). Common mental disorders contribute to 14% of the global burden of disease (Rugema, et al., 2015). PTSD treatment at global levels...
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...Social marketing: The social marketing strategies used in Victorious Vets are displayed through our use of advertisements in local media outlets, posters displayed at facilities that attract large crowds of people specifically those with PTSD and through running community events to promote knowledge about PTSD . The strategies that Victorious Vets have adopted have accurately met the criteria for what a successful social marketing campaign aims to achieve. By accurately meeting the criteria Victorious Vets will aim to effectively increase both awareness and knowledge of PTSD, prompt individuals who are directly or indirectly effected by this condition to become motivated enough to seek out information and services and to generally change the...
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...mental disorder and the inclusion of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the DSM (2011, p.1) From the earliest classification, we saw many influences that shape each revision. The U.S. Census Bureau was influential in "the earliest classification systems of mental disorders, and those systems predominated for nearly a century"(cotton and Ridings, 2011). Not satisfied with the manual the Census officials again demanded more changes to have a more standardized classification system for mental disorders which would include collection of data. This lead to the birth of the Statistical Manual for the use of Institutions for the insane. Two issues Cotton and Ridings believed should be discuss are...
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...ARNAUD NDIZIHIWE Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Soldiers, Communities, Societies From War Participation MARCH 2012 TABLE OF CONTENT PROLOGUE PART I POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Part II: IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL Part III: IMPACT ON FAMILY Part IV: IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY PART V: OVERCOMING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PART VI: DISCUSSION BIBLIOGRAPHY Post-Traumatic stress Disorders on Soldiers, Communities, Societies from War Participation Prologue A few years back when I was in Rwanda, it was no longer surprising to a attend a memorial ceremony and each time, all of a sudden, some women would start screaming:"They are coming for me!" as if they were being chased to death or men losing control and start shouting at another group of people:"You murderers!". We were used to this phenomenon but a newcomer would certainly creep out. For me, their reaction is perfectly understandable and tough I view it from my country's perspective and experience, post traumatic stress disorder is a global sociological and psychological issue that needs to be addressed. Conflicts inciting violence are still going on, some have ended but a large number of war survivors and victims are still haunted by the memories, they have experienced the worst situations humanly possible and if the issue is not addressed properly, trauma can be perpetual...
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...spent years in a military only to come home to a world who looks down on them because they are no longer normal and find it very hard to adjust to the civilian world due to the imagines stained on their brain from the world. In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about one in ten returning soldiers seen in VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs (Veteran Affairs 2012). As human service provider I witness this co diagnosis of PTSD ( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and SUD (Substance Abuse Disorder) daily and it has encouraged me to form a opinion. After some deep thought I would like to look into the efficiency of the treatment prescribed to solders suffering from PTSD and which is more effective. In this paper I will be looking Cognitive behavioral therapy offered when trying to treat PTSD and SUD . On the other hand I will like to look into a variety of medication therapy which includes anxiety medication and drugs known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. On an weekly basis I deal with over 100 veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD and in most cases are dual diagnosed with SUD (Substance Use Disorder). While looking over these veterans charts I notice that many have attended Cognitive behavioral therapy,...
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...million people each year,” (Valente, 2010). PTSD effects more women than, with approximately 58% of at risk individuals including combat veterans. If left untreated, PTSD leaves those affected with quality of life issues, social interactions, daily functioning, and psychological issues. Over the years, there has been an increase in the awareness of post traumatic stress, and the impact of its diagnosis, (Bastien, 2010). Treatment relies on a multidimensional approach, including supportive patient education, cognitive therapy, and psychopharmacology. This paper will review PTSD, including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, medical and nursing management and community resources available to those affected by this disease. Description of Disease “Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder with a sustained and dysfunctional emotional reaction to a traumatic event, threat of injury or death, and pain,” (Valente, 2010). A traumatic event can be military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault. Most people who are exposed to a traumatic event will have stress reactions for the immediate days or weeks following the incident, however with some time will be able to deal with the event and return to normal. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own and may even worsen with time. These individuals are at risk for developing PTSD. Post traumatic stress disorder became...
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... Gutner, C. A., Luciano, M. T., Shipherd, J. C., & Street, A. E. (2014, July 14). Deployment Stressors and Physical Health Among OEF/OIF Veterans: The Role of PTSD. Health Psychology. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/hea0000084 Nillni, Gradus, Gutner, Luciano, Shipherd, and Street are all professors at the Boston University School of Medicine, who created a study based the role of PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans. Their position was that exposure to traumatic stress and combat stress were directly associated with an increase in physical health symptoms. The participants of the study included 2,332 OIF Veterans with 1,201 of these veterans being female. The professors used a series of hierarchical linear regression models to examine the effects of deployment and PTSD symptoms on physical health symptoms. In the conclusion of all there research it was discovered that for both men and women, after accounting for PTSD symptoms, combat stress did not give any unique variance in symptoms. Another big conclusion was that harassment while deployed plays a major role in the diagnosis of PTSD in many veterans. The professors used the information gathered throughout their study to support the fact that harassment was as big of a factor in veterans with PTSD and the combat stresses or experience itself. Their conclusion that they drew is as stated, “This study extends the existing literature by demonstrating the unique...
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...Draft) 3/23/2015 The media has a very powerful voice in society and can be responsible for promoting stereotypes of specific groups. Their voice is so profound that it can shape the way the public perceives these groups. One group the media has had a heavy hand in stereotyping lately is the United States Veterans of the Armed Forces. Whether it is in print journalism, news radio and TV newscasts, or the portrayal of vets in television shows and movies, the veterans have been cast in a bad light. The veterans seem to be a constant topic in the news and the majority of their coverage seems to be negative and unfair. USA Today had a headline that read: Police Get Help with Vets Who are Ticking Bombs. A CNN headline reads, Experts: Vets’ PTSD, Violence a Growing Problem. The Christian Science Monitor had an article titled, Veteran Charged with Homeless Murders: Hint of Larger Problem for US Military. With the public being bombarded with this atrociousness and the emphasis that the perpetrator was a veteran, it is easy to see how the veterans can quickly gain a bad rap. Is the real problem that the veterans are majorly broken or are monsters? Or, is the media picking a target and exploiting them for quick and easy profits? Considering that 140,000 veterans are part of America’s prison population and 20,000 of those are for murder it would seem that there is a real problem with the veterans. It would also lead one to assume that maybe the media is portraying them accurately. However...
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...Affected by PTSD Future Considerations Overview of Trauma & Stress Related Disorders Trauma- and stressor-related disorders include disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is listed explicitly as a diagnostic criterion- DSM 5 Category includes: Reactive Attachment Disorder Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Acute Stress Disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In PTSD, a traumatic event is thought to cause a pathological memory that is at the center of the characteristic clinical symptoms associated with the disorder. Clinical Description 1. Intrusion: Recurrent reexperiencing of the event through nightmares, intrusive images, and physiological reactivity 2. Avoidance of thoughts, feelings or reminders of the trauma 3. Negative Cognitions and Mood: Feelings of detachment, as well as negative emotional states such as shame or anger, or distorted blame of oneself or others 4. Arousal and Reactivity: Hypervigilance, excessive response when startled, aggression, and reckless behavior What is the difference between Adjustment Disorder and PTSD? In adjustment disorder, the stressor is something that is commonly experienced, and the nature of the psychological reaction is much less severe. In PTSD, there is exposure to a traumatic stressor that is accompanied by fear, helplessness, and horror, and the psychological distress is both severe and debilitating (Butcher et. al 2014) Diagnostic Criteria of PTSD (DSM 5) Note:...
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...Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to previous and repeated trauma exposure. African-Americans living in urban, low income communities with continuous exposure to community violence and previous personal trauma exposure, may have a higher prevalence of PTSD and other mental health disorders. As a result, living in these environments could increase the likelihood of poor social and developmental outcomes, including but not limited to increased anxiety, aggression, depression, and social withdrawal. There are numerous factors that contribute to this hypothesis: African Americans were six times more likely than Whites to be murdered or victimized (Fox & Zawitz, 2002). These include low socioeconomic status, trauma exposure, lack of cultural competency, lack of diversity in the mental health-care work force; the fragmentation of mental health services to include a mix of disparities in private plans’ coverage of mental health services, public insurance and safety net programs, federal laws, and financial barriers. Lack of trust for physicians and health care providers; exposure to urban stressors such as poverty, racism, and violence can also be barriers. In a previous study, researchers (Breslau, Chilcoat, Kessler & Davis (1999), examined the prevalence of PTSD in individuals exposed to previous trauma. The study showed that African Americans who reported previous trauma exposure were at a higher risk of experiencing PTSD than those that had no previous...
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...I lined up an interview with a local Vietnam combat veteran with PTSD to discuss how being a part of a support group has improved his life, and how different life is in our community for an individual with PTSD, even while receiving treatment. However, an unforeseen family-related situation came up at the last minute, and he ended up having to cancel our meeting. To Parham 5 supplement, I watched an interview conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs with a veteran facing PTSD. The interview was with Alan, a combat veteran who served in the Navy Reserve and the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War era. Speaking about his return to the U.S. after serving, Alan explained, “I didn’t know what to expect when I got back. I had heard different things, different stories, it was just okay. You were there, you did your job, and it was over…go to work. And that’s kind of the attitude my whole family had.” Alan, upon his return, felt like he needed to talk about what he had and was experiencing related to the war. “I was married before I went to Vietnam. When I got back, she didn’t, they didn’t, my whole family didn’t ask. They didn’t want to know. I needed to talk about things, and they didn’t want to listen.” As it did on many veterans, the lack of support took a toll on Alan’s everyday life. He began to drink heavily, stopped going to work...
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...Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Current State of PTSD Kriss Gross Argosy University GRADE 300/300 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Current State of PTSD When Johnny came “marching home”, there were ticker-tape parades and family and friends threw parties in celebration of their military member’s safe arrival home. Unfortunately, being home came with its own set of problems, as an increasing number veterans face a battle in their own minds. That battle is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and it has been affecting veterans for decades, as an anxiety disorder brought about by the exposure to a traumatic event that causes a “pathological memory”, which then emerges with symptoms of “generalized feelings of fear and apprehension” (Butcher, 2010, p. 158). The number of veterans diagnosed with PTSD and being treated through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has tripled since 2001; emphasizing the vital need for established therapies (Eftekhari, Ruzek, Crowley, Rosen, Greenbaum, & Karlin, 2013). According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as of September 1, 2013, 625,953 veterans are being compensated for PTSD. The rise in the number of veterans presenting with PTSD is thought to be in direct correlation to longer deployments, decreased time between deployments and the increasing number of deployments (Cook, Dinnen, O'Donnell, Bernardy, Rosenheck, & Hoff, 2013). In order to be compensated for the disorder, veterans must meet the...
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...Zaira Partida Special Population Topic Paper Indiana University PTSD Among African American Youth Imagine feeling as if you are trapped in your own thoughts or feeling as if you are always having to look behind your shoulder, or even always having to be alone because the real world scares you. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) creates unbearable mental recollections within individuals causing them to be in mental distress. The cognitive theory defines PTSD as intrusive recollections that leave individuals in a distressed state of mind (Harary, S. K 2012). In today’s world, anyone can be a victim of violence, no matter the skin color or the age. In this case, the focus will be on African American youths who have been exposed to some form of violence causing...
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...abused-related traumas and that “intensive treatment of psychopathological trauma may be destabilized” (395). People like Harper believes that practice guidelines can help treat clients with PTSD (362), while Wright inclines that there are studies that have been tended to examine psychopathology and general well-beings rather than having researched for PTSD (395). The study that attempts to answer is whether group programs are efficient in reducing PTSD symptoms in adults who have been abused in their childhood year. They use a program called Program for Traumatic Stress Recover (PTSR) where there are 28 beds, and is a 6-week inpatient program that can organize the lives of the survivors of the abused victims through affecting human thoughts, feelings and behaviors (Wright et al. 2003, 397). Their main goals is to “promote empowerment for the survivors and fostering the development of new community ties and connections” and their recovery is lead to three stages: “the establishment of safety, remembrance and mourning, and reconnection with ordinary life” (Wright et al. 2003, 396). Wright describes on page 396 that this program (PTSR) is expected to be effective in helping clients who have PTSD who had been abused through their sessions of group therapy and is hoping to build a strong sense of communities. The group therapy gathers these survivors with each other to demonstrate that there are many people out there that struggles just the same as them and that they are not going through...
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