Wide Impact Of Ptsd On Veterans Lives
The sobering findings tell us as much about the Vietnam generation as about the lifelong impact of combat service in general, relevant to all generations, wrote Dr. Charles Hoge, of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, in an accompanying editorial .
The new study also found that around one-third of war-zone veterans with current PTSD also had major depression. This is just one of the conditions that is likely to occur alongside PTSD.
One of the issues that often comes up for people with PTSD is substance-abuse problems, said Elliot Weiner, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and director of the trauma and PTSD program at CBT/DBT Associates in New York, which in many situations are peoples efforts to self-medicate through drugs or alcohol.
Together PTSD, depression, and substance abuse problems can disrupt the lives of veterans, including their relationships with their partners and family.
How Veterans Created Ptsd
Now a cultural staple, PTSD is a newer diagnosis. How have conceptions of trauma morphed and what does it mean for US institutions and society?
If humanity has always had wars, it seems natural to assume soldiers have always suffered from PTSD. But PTSD as a recognized diagnosis is relatively new. In fact, PTSD was not added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual until 1980.
Since the close of the Vietnam war, journal articles began to question the link between the mental health consequences of having served in Vietnam, crime, and incarceration rates. But those articles didnt yet have the PTSD diagnosis in their analytic arsenalit simply didnt exist. Now that it does, contemporary articles retroactively apply what we now know as PTSD to centuries-old accounts of veterans suffering mental health issues. To understand the modern discourse around PTSD and incarceration, it is imperative to understand its evolution through history.
Long Line Writer
Weekly Newsletter
That said, battle trauma is just the most commonly discussed type of trauma. While what is probably the most commonly occurring form of war trauma, sexual assault, is rarely mentioned. For centuries, too many stories of how women responded to rape trauma went untold while soldiers accounts of struggling with disturbing memories of battle are documented frequently.
Barely a decade after the introduction of PTSD, its implications on the criminal justice were of concern to legislators.
Long Line Writer
Ptsd In Veterans Of The Vietnam War: What To Know
Berry LawPTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common mental health symptom for many Veterans once they leave the military. It is a challenging condition to deal with on your own, and it can also affect the Veterans families and loved ones.
Those who served in the Vietnam war still frequently struggle with PTSD. PTSD can occur in Veterans who witnessed a traumatic events in service, such as a natural disaster, death, combat exposure, or sexual assault.
When Veterans experience these life-changing events, it is normal for them to have symptoms related to PTSD.
Key Takeaways:
- Youll learn what PTSD is
- Youll know how Veterans from the Vietnam War are struggling with PTSD
- Youll learn the common symptoms of PTSD
- Youll know how to receive benefits for PTSD
- Youll know what treatments are available for PTSD
Recommended Reading: How To Get Disability In Ohio
Impact Of Military Service In Vietnam On Coping And Health Behaviors Of Aging Veterans During The Covid
- 1Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- 2Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- 3Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center , VA Boston Healthcare System and Departments of Epidemiology and Psychiatry, Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- 4National Center for PTSD Behavioral Science Division at VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- 5National Center for PTSD Women’s Health Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
Ptsd Treatment For Veterans
The treatment of PTSD is multidimensional, including medication, therapy, and in recent years, mindfulness-based treatments have provided an alternative to managing both PTSD and chronic pain.
While some researchers have said that exposure therapy, which is trauma focused, is not always advisable for most veterans with PTSD, a 2019 study suggested otherwise. The study was the first to conclude that exposure therapy did not increase the risk of exacerbation of PTSD symptoms among participants.
Don’t Miss: Is Cancer Considered A Permanent Disability
Mental Health And Addiction Help In Tennessee
If you are a veteran struggling with the symptoms of PTSD or other mental health issue, we can help. At our residential, long-term and outpatient treatment centers, Cumberland Heights provides top-notch mental health care to those dealing with mental illnesses, especially those co-occurring with substance use disorders. Our dedicated staff members will walk with you every step of the way on your journey to recovery, helping you to rewrite your story.
At Cumberland Heights, weve been changing lives since 1966. To learn more about our services, contact the Cumberland Heights admissions team.
A Short History Of Veterans And Ptsd
The PTSD/ war relationship is deep and generational. From as far back as the times of the Mesopotamian civilizations, veterans with PTSD have existed. Although we may assume that PTSD existed before that point, the ancient Sumerians were the first to have a written record, in the form of the Epic of Gilgamesh, of soldiers and former soldiers being affected by memories of their experiences war. The memories did not always need a physical injury to be given to the soldier himself typically, it was enough to just have an intense fear overcome them suddenly or be met by the sight of a fellow soldier being killed in combat. In Roman poet Lucretiuss work De Rerum Natura he recounts this information as given to him by Hippocrates, a Greek physician. In this poem, he also speaks of how frightening dreams are also common experiences among former soldiers.
Even Shakespeare seemed to have some knowledge of PTSD, as many scholars believe that his character of Henry IV displays symptoms or common thoughts and feelings among those suffering from PTSD.
During the end of the 1790s, psychiatrist Philippe Panel was recorded as the first person to formally give a name to PTSD, though he did not specifically call it. Panel referred to it as cardiorespiratory neurosis and used that term to diagnose individuals who suffered from PTSD because of the violence and the events of the brutal French Revolution.
What Symptoms Are Associated With PTSD?
Avoidance Symptoms
Avoidance symptoms include:
You May Like: Is Social Security The Same As Disability
Ongoing Toll On Veterans
The Vietnam War is one of the most divisive moments in U.S. history and because of this, many educators experience difficulty teaching it in their classrooms. Additionally, we need to acknowledge what happened to the men and women who served after they came home and the challenges many of them faced, including PTSD. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund provides teachers with robust education materials to help students learn about the lasting impact of the Vietnam War, while reinforcing history, civic engagement, writing, and other interdisciplinary skills.
The lesson plan OngoingToll on Veterans covers the struggles of Vietnam veterans faced after they returned home.
The Role Of Spouses And Intimate Partners
Several theoretical frameworks underscore the potential for spouses to influence the psychological adjustment of aging combat veterans, particularly those coping with wounds and injuries . For example, both dyadic coping and intimacy process models posit that spousal communication is a key relationship process that can either ameliorate or exacerbate individual distress. Dyadic coping models include individual stress communication and empathic or minimizing spousal responses to such communication as key processes to explain psychological adjustment to stress . Intimacy process models include a similar focus on disclosure-responsiveness links, such that individuals disclosure of stress, coupled with their spouses responsiveness , promotes well-being .
Recommended Reading: Can Short Term Disability Be Used For Maternity Leave
Many Vietnam Veterans Still Suffer From Ptsd Decades Later
Philip Paolini served four years in the Vietnam War as a marine. In the years since then, he’s faced a number of hardships, including post-traumatic stress disorder , substance abuse and homelessness.
And Paolini’s story is far from uncommon. New research shows that four decades after the Vietnam War ended, more than 270,000 veterans who served in the war zone suffer from symptoms of PTSD, a mental health condition characterized by painful flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the disturbing events they experienced.
The study, published online Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, also found that at least one-third of those veterans exhibiting symptoms of PTSD suffer from major depression, as well.
Researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center followed up with Vietnam War veterans who had participated in a study from 1984 to 1988. Of the 1,839 men and women still alive from the original study, over 1,400 participated in at least one phase of the new study, which involved a health questionnaire, health interview and clinical interview.
The study authors used three different scales to measure PTSD. Depending on the method, the results suggest that between 4.5 percent and 11.2 percent of the male Vietnam veterans and 6.1 and 8.7 percent of the female vets are experiencing serious PTSD symptoms today.
Incidence Of Ptsd In Vietnam Veterans
The findings from the study mandated by Congress in 1983 were alarming. At the time of the study , among Vietnam veterans, approximately 15% of men and 9% of women were found to currently have PTSD.
Approximately 30% of men and 27% of women had PTSD at some point in their life following Vietnam.
These findings obtained approximately a decade after the end of the Vietnam War, found that for many veterans, their PTSD had become a chronic condition.
To examine the longer-term effects of chronic PTSD, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, Columbia University, The American Legion, and the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center surveyed 1,377 American Legionnaires who had served in Southeast Asia in the Vietnam War 14 years after their NVVRS interview in 1984.
Their study found that almost three decades after the Vietnam War, many veterans continued to experience problems with PTSD. At the initial interview, approximately 12% had PTSD. Fourteen years later, the rates of PTSD had dropped only slightly to approximately 11%. Those who had experienced high levels of combat exposure were most likely to have PTSD at both interviews.
Veterans who continued to have PTSD 14 years after their first interview were found to have considerably more psychological and social problems.
Recommended Reading: How To Apply For Student Loan Forgiveness Due To Disability
What Are The Treatment Options For Partners Of Veterans With Ptsd
The first step for partners of Veterans with PTSD is to gain a better understanding of PTSD and the impact on families by gathering information. Resources on the National Center for PTSD website may be useful.
With regard to specific treatment strategies, Nelson and Wright suggest, “effective treatment should involve family psychoeducation, support groups for both partners and Veterans, concurrent individual treatment, and couple or family therapy” . Psychoeducational groups teach coping strategies and educate Veterans and their partners about the effects of trauma on individuals and families. Often these groups function as self-help support groups for partners of Veterans. Preliminary research offers encouragement for the use of group treatment for female partners of Vietnam Veterans. Individual therapy for both the veteran and his or her partner is an important treatment component, especially when PTSD symptoms are prominent in both individuals. Couples or family therapy may also be highly effective treatment for individuals’ symptoms and problems within the family system. Several researchers have begun exploring the benefits of family or couples therapy for both the veteran and other family members. In light of the recent research on the negative impact of PTSD on families, Veterans Affairs PTSD programs and Vet Centers across the country are beginning to offer group, couples, and individual programs for families of Veterans.
National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study
More recently, Congress requested that VA conduct a follow-up study among the participants of the NVVRS, known as the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study . The NVVLS was completed in December 2013, and was the first study to measure the long-term health and mental health of Vietnam Veterans.
Both the NVVRS and NVVLS compared two groups of Veterans: those deployed to the Vietnam War , and those who served during the Vietnam-era, but were not deployed to the Vietnam theater . The NVVLS assessment of the Veterans physical and mental health included a self-report survey, a phone interview, and for some randomly selected participants, an additional phone interview led by a mental health clinician that focused on issues including PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.
While NVVLS findings confirm that the majority of Vietnam theater Veterans are both mentally and physically healthy, a significant number are still suffering from PTSD symptoms and other chronic health issues related to their service.
VA is using the results of this study and other similar studies to better understand the long-term effects of military service. The results will allow VA to improve care and to better address Veterans long-term health needs, as well as anticipate future health needs of recent Veterans.
For more information on VA research related to the health of Vietnam Veterans, visit www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/research-studies.asp.
You May Like: Can You Work And Collect Va Disability
Tips For Your Vietnam Ptsd Claim
There are three requirements for establishing a claim based on PTSD. These include:
Evidence that will be helpful to a PTSD claim includes service records , buddy statements showing a change in the veterans behavior after service, and information about the details of the in-service stressor . It is also very important to have established treatment for your PTSD in order to document the severity of your symptoms and ensure a more accurate rating from the VA.
Four Decades Later: Vietnam Veterans And Ptsd
On March 25, 1973, the role of overt American intervention in the Republic of Vietnam ended. On May 7, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford proclaimed the end of the Vietnam era.
Nearly a decade later, Congress asked the VA Administrator to conduct a comprehensive study of the prevalence and incidence in the population of Vietnam veterans of post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological problems in readjusting to civilian life. That study, funded by the VA and based on independent peer review, became known as the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study . Its findings became the empirical basis for many policy changes on veterans health.
Based on peer review, it was designed, implemented, analyzed, and interpreted by a multidisciplinary team of health and mental health professionals from Abt Associates and the Department of Psychiatry at New York University. That group included three co-principal investigators from the first study. The research team submitted the new study to the VA in December 2013. The VA shared the findings with Congress in August 2014.
What follows are some preliminary findings about Vietnam veterans for the 25-year span between the 1986-88 NVVRS and the 2012-13 NVVLS.STUDY DESIGN
The NVVLS is a follow-up study of two cohorts of veterans who participated in the original NVVRS study: service members who were deployed to the Vietnam War , and a comparison group who served during the Vietnam era but were not deployed to the Vietnam theater .
You May Like: Is Pregnancy A Disability Under Ada
Ptsd In Vietnam Veterans
In 1983, a mandate set forth by Congress required the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study to better understand the psychological effects of being in combat in the Vietnam War. The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study found that approximately 15% of the 2.7 million Americans who served in the Vietnam war had PTSD.
The incidence over a lifetime following involvement in the Vietnam war, however, is much greater. Approximately 30% of men and 27% of women developed some form of partial PTSD at some point in their life following Vietnam.
Today, some 40 years later, new findings reported by the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study indicate that approximately 271,000 Vietnam veterans still suffer from PTSD and other major depressive disorders, indicating an ongoing need for mental health services for veterans after returning home from combat. Another congressional mandate, the NVVLS surveyed many of the Vietnam veterans who were previously assessed by the NVVRS, since a significant number of those participants had since passed away.
A Brief History Of Ptsd
Stress has always beensynonymous with soldiers involved in armedconflict and the carnage of war. Combatplaces tremendous psychological strain upon theindividual and certain psychiatric conditions canprevent men and women from behaving as they areexpected to behave. The attitudes ofmilitary commanders to individuals less brave thantheir fellows has varied greatly throughouthistory. Brigadier P Abraham pointsout that as early as 480 BC historians noted thatHerodotus Leonidas, King of Sparta dismissedtroops he believed ‘had no heart for the fight’and were unwilling to take their share of thedanger during the defence of Thermopylae. Wellington of the Battle of Waterloo fame, asevere disciplinarian, observed that: ‘…all soldiers run away. The good ones return’.
As Gary Martin once said if, aswe are advised by the psychiatric community thatPTSD is a by-product of Modern War, then we shouldbegin to look for evidence of the syndrome at thebeginning of the century. This may give usan insight into how the Vietnam veteran maycompare with those combatants of other wars.
War changes men’s natures. Abnormal men seldom commit the barbarities ofwar. The tragedy of war is that thesehorrors are committed by normal men in situationsin which the ebb and flow of everyday life havedeparted and been replaced by a constant round offear and anger and blood and death. Soldiersat war are not to be judged by civilian rules.
Table comparing the Vietnam Warwith other wars.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Difference Between Ptsd And Cptsd