Evaluating PTSD Treatment Options
Evaluating PTSD Treatment Options
(Evaluating PTSD Treatment Options)
The paper is based on a case study acquired from the class’ audio files on non-evidence based treatment on which I had to base my research. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the symptoms and presenting problems for the patient in the chosen case study and from which data I am expected to propose a provisional diagnosis. I will provide one evidence-based treatment for this diagnosis and provide a rationale thereof.
Introduction The veterans in the United States are found to face or have distress functioning once they go back home after having served in a war. Irvin’s case is no different. Irvin is said to have been deployed in Iraq once he had attained 20 years, but upon return, Irvin is depicted as a completely different individual. He is presumed to have night sweats and nightmares and as such not only has his mood become stoic, but it is also evident that he has become irrational in that he has become violent to his family; wife and children.As commonly evident in veterans upon return from war, they not only succumb to depression among other things, but they also fall into drug abuse habits as it is depicted by Ivan who succumbs to a drinking habit. As such the fact that Irvin was a service member becomes inevitably a stress for him and his family in general (Wilson, & Keane, 2004). Apart from the fact that the service members often face mental health problems, the deployed service members succumb to domestic violence, marital problems, sleep disturbances and rebellion from children of service members after experiencing chaos at home. Being a service member, for many individuals across the United States is faced with criticism owing to the stress and trauma that they face in war, that are so grave that often a diagnosis; often of PTSD and treatment of their conditions have to be made.
Irvin S’ diagnosis and treatment(Evaluating PTSD Treatment Options)
PTSD According to the VA reports, it was found that by the year 2008; approximately 1.7 million Americans had actively served in war in Iraq as well as in Afghanistan. Out of these 43percent of those in active-duty have children. Upon return as aforementioned, the veterans are faced with anxiety, PTSD which is a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, traumatic brain injuries among others due to having served (Acosta, 2013). The extent of these effects does not only affect the service member but also the children, the spouses, friends and extended families. For the affected individuals it is paramount that they access treatment in a bid so they can make a recovery from the mental and health issues that affect their lives so gravely. It has been noted, that veterans subject to the PTSD predicament needed their families present in their recovery process thereby emphasizing the need for family members to show emphasis for their aggrieved service members (Acosta, 2013). The essence of this is mainly to avoid having the service members succumbing to isolation.
Apart from the fact that the service members often face mental health problems, the deployed service members succumb to domestic violence, marital problems, sleep disturbances such as in Irvin’s case whereby he is faced with recurrent nightmares and night sweats, aspects that evidently negatively impact on the life of the service member (National Center for PTSD, 2015). Essentially, the negative behavior on the part of the veterans may affect the children who may also begin to act out as a result of separation anxiety that may manifest thereof. Additionally, depending on their ages, the children may also register mal performances in school as well as show nuance of temper, changes in moods, anger, and apathy among others.
However, even though there is little evidence on the integration of evidence –based treatment; which is treatment that is based on scientific evidence that is peer-reviewed. in practice, practice guidelines that are evidence-based treatments are disseminated through the educational activities in the traditional sense which have affected the clinical practice.
Implementation science has ameliorated the gap that is existent between practice and research in the health-care environment. The implementation of evidence-based intervention for PTSD is necessary in the mental health training and in the delivery of service as it pertains to PTSD is essential (National Center for PTSD, 2015).(Evaluating PTSD Treatment Options)
In 2006 to 2007, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has commenced national training initiatives that were utilized in the process of disseminating evidence-based treatment for PTSD. These are Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); that is a particular aspect of cognitive behavioral therapy that has been implored in mitigating the PTSD symptoms after experiencing trauma and Prolonged Exposure (PE); which is an evidenced-based strategy implored in the treatment of PTSD. According to research, it is evident that the integration of evidence-based treatments in settings with routine care for PTSD patients often experiences a reduction of their symptoms. Data acquired from program evaluation has asserted that the Cognitive Processing Therapy works efficaciously (National Center for PTSD, 2015).
Conclusion Relative to Irvin’s case and the fact that he experienced trauma during war that affected not only himself but his family, it is imperative to consider the integration of the evidence based interventions in the healthcare system which did not offer Irvin much help with his predicament. Albeit the fact that progress is visible with the use of evidence based practice for patients diagnosed with PTSD, it is still uncommon to find the practice been integrated in the healthcare setting. The literature available for the intervention thereof is mainly based on descriptive research as opposed to experimental approach. Training is therefore vital in this case in order to deliver efficacious care to the affected patients when the traditional interventions such as counseling fail as it had been in Irvin’s case. Advancements in intervention strategies will allow for the affected PTSD patients to live a better life.
Reference Acosta, G. (2013). The Impact of War: Mental Health of Veterans and Their Families. Retrieved from https://msw.usc.edu/mswusc-blog/veteran-mental-health/ National Center for PTSD. (2015). Advancing science and promoting understanding of traumatic stress. Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/researchquarterly/V26N4.pdf Wilson, J. P., & Keane, T. M. (Eds.). (2004). Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD.
