Factors Affecting PTSD in Soldiers - Research Paper Example

?Factors Affecting PTSD in Soldiers It is without question that the recent engagement in armed conflict within the Middle East by the United s military has affected the individual soldiers involved in many different ways. From the psychological standpoint, increased rates of anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, depression and substance abuse disorders, and a litany of others have been referenced by medical professionals both within the military structure and within the civilian structure. Accordingly, it has recently been reported that more than one third of the returned soldiers have reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or forms of major depression. As such, this research plan aims to identify the most common mental disorder affecting the war veterans and explain it using a psychological theory. Ways of helping the soldiers can also be viewed from the following research plan. Naturally, the overall importance of this topic is underscored by the many soldiers who are returning from wars with negative effects that affect the rest of their lives (Monson et al, 2006). The recent war returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan are such examples. In 2009, one third of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan received care after diagnosis with mental health and psychosocial ills. The age of the returning soldiers is also to be addressed due to the fact that more and more young soldiers are taken to wars with the most adverse effects affecting them. Accordingly, the hypothesis of this brief research is that posttraumatic stress disorder, and all of its various exhibitions, is the most prevalent form of psychological damage that is exhibited upon the returning soldier. Moreover, does the hypothesis of this author that the majority of soldiers that are being affected by such psychological issues are between the ages of 18 and 24 years of age. Cognitive theory is of course one of the most pertinent means of understanding and defining the current level of PTSD that is exhibited among returning soldiers. The theory itself argues that all human actions are as a result of the thought processes that they undergo. The soldiers, after returning from war, learn and think of associating some actions with a reaction, like loud bangs to bomb and/or explosion and darkness to confrontational times. These individuals cannot help it behaving in such a manner and this brings about the stresses that develop PTSD as they tend to be fearful of every occurrence in the normal civilian life (Shaw & Hector, 2010). Sadness crops into one’s life bringing depression. This depression can also be brought on by a lack of sleep. The Factors That Will Be Studied Factors that will be studied in this research plan are as follows: ages of the returning soldiers, the sex of the soldiers affected the most prevalent mental disorder, and the type of psychological and physical injuries they may have sustained within combat/tour of duty. It has been demonstrably proven by other researchers that many of the soldiers affected by mental illnesses are between ages 18-24 and are mostly male. Problem statement and Problem Question The soldiers affected by the PTSD are majorly young with almost 86% coming from the age of up to 30 years old. However, the question then becomes whether or not the soldiers who are returning with psychological trauma are receiving the care that they require. As further goal of the research, the study will aim to develop a framework for understanding that will necessarily seek to aid these individuals in providing professionals with the tools they need in order to focus upon the key groups that are most severely impacted by PTSD within the military community. The mental illnesses affecting the returnee soldiers from the wars are real a very high percentage of them suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Such figures are astounding; partly due to the fact that it is admitted by the military that nearly 70% of PTSD cases remain undiagnosed. This research topic will aim at developing ways in which to help the affected soldiers affected by the trauma and physical injuries. Literature Summary Studies show that a huge number of soldiers going for war have a high chance of facing the posttraumatic stress disorder (Monson, pg. 902). Shaw (pg. 130) discusses the un-cried tears of the war veterans and how they are treated. Furthermore, studies that have been concentric upon the demographics of these individuals have pointed definitively to the fact that they are invariably around the age of 18 to 24. Their return from the theater of war is oftentimes celebrated; however, once the applause ends and the resumption of “normal” life begins is oftentimes the point in time when PTSD is evidenced. Regardless of the understanding, PTSD continues to increase with little action taking place to curb it (Monson et al, 2006) Conclusion: Accordingly, the level to which each of these factors ties in to one another acquaints the reader/researcher with the full extent of the issues that currently exhibit themselves in the military with relation to counseling and psychiatric needs. As there is no single fix for the problems that have been noted, this proposal will seek to discuss some of the most salient ways in which the underlying causal factors for these problems can be adequately addressed and minimized over time. With respect to the high rates of psychological trauma that soldiers experience, it is the belief and hypothesis of the author that proper education and preliminary understanding of what constitutes a need for counseling and psychiatric help would be first on the list of suggestions with regards to ways that military personnel could be educated and encouraged to take an active role in their own psychiatric health both during their time in and out of the service. Such a regimen could be conducted during a few brief hours of training every month as a reminder that such services exist for the soldier and are put in place for their health and benefit. Secondly, with respect to the negative stigma that is oftentimes attributed to the existence of such counseling needs, there is little that the military can do about how this stigma exists within society at large; however, it is possible to change the stigma that exists within the culture of the military itself (Biehn et al, 2012). This can be accomplished through training of shareholders and leadership personnel as well as implementing clear and concise guides to how situations concerning counseling and psychological help should proceed. By developing a clear plan with relation to such an incidence, the response will be according to procedure and not tinged by the possibly biased views of a given shareholder or leadership figure. Lastly, with relation to the budgetary shortfalls, this is perhaps the most difficult of the issues to work to fix. As the prevalence of counseling needs has been aptly demonstrated, it is beholden upon the federal government and the military to allocate the requisite amount of funding to such programs as a way to increase shareholder health and work to allay and avert future issues that could potentially be much more damaging if not treated. References Biehn, T. L., Elhai, J. D., Fine, T. H., Seligman, L. D., & Richardson, J. (2012). PTSD factor structure differences between veterans with and without a PTSD diagnosis. Journal Of Anxiety Disorders, 26(3), 480-485. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.01.008 Monson, C. M., Schnurr, P. P., Resick, P. A., Friedman, M. J., Young-Xu, Y., & Stevens, S. P.'s (2006). Cognitive Processing Therapy for Veterans with Military-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74 (5), 898–907. Shaw, M. E., & Hector, M. A. (2010). Listening to Military Members Returning from Iraq and/or Afghanistan. A Phenomenological Investigation, 41, 128–134. Read More