Combat-Related PTSD: Scope of the Current Problem, Understanding Effective Treatment, And Barriers to Care (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Developments in Mental Health Law 2010, Jan, 29, 1
-
- £2.99
-
- £2.99
Publisher Description
Abstract (1) Since 2001, more than 1.9 million United States troops have deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While the majority of these troops function well despite repeated and prolonged deployments, approximately 10-20% evidence psychological difficulties significant enough to warrant mental health treatment. Given the overall scale of these military deployments, even conservative estimates of risk translate into hundreds of thousands of troops returning with mental health difficulties, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This Article discusses the conceptualization and impact of PTSD, effective treatment for the disorder, barriers to effective treatment, the programmatic responses of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and appropriate future directions to address this ongoing public health crisis.