Military-Related PTSD: Diagnosis and Treatments An Objective Evaluation

The purpose of this project is to focus on the current diagnostic practices for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as the treatment options that are available to our military service members that suffer from the debilitating effects of the disease. This project serves to not only define PTSD and give a brief history of it, but also to examine what the strengths and faults of the current diagnosis and treatment practices are. The project examines not only the guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Society\u27s DSM-IV, but also the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines that set forth the standard for diagnosis and treatment specifically of military personnel. It covers the nature and course of the disease as an essential part of the diagnosis and treatment process, and the prevalence rates across various conflicts. Further discussion on prevalence rates and on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in both Canada and the UK are included for comparison between the United States and other military\u27s experiences with the disorder. The paper focuses on the topic of the stigma of PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury in conjunction with PTSD, and the comorbidity of PTSD with other disorders. Also discussed within the project is a local VA program, and the external and internal effects of PTSD on not only the soldier but their family, friends, and comrades. The project also serves to highlight what further research needs to be done in order to make progression in the field of study