These results provide preliminary evidence that multiple deployments to Iraq may be a risk factor for PTSD. However, these cross-sectional data require replication in a longitudinal study.
Repeated combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are resulting in increased rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military personnel. Although exposure therapy is an effective treatment for this disorder, some personnel do not significantly respond to treatment, possibly due to poor activation of the trauma memory or a lack of emotional engagement during therapy. In addition, some service members do not seek mental healthcare due to treatment stigma. Researchers recently developed a virtual reality (VR) Iraq to attempt to improve activation of the traumatic memory during exposure therapy and to provide a treatment approach that may be more appealing to some service members, relative to traditional face-to-face talk therapy. Initial validation of the application requires an assessment of how well it represents the experiences of previously deployed service members. This study evaluated the realism of the VR Iraq application according to the subjective evaluation of 93 U.S. Army soldiers who returned from Iraq in the last year. Those screening negative for PTSD used and evaluated a VR tactical convoy and a VR dismounted patrol in a simulated Middle Eastern city. Results indicated that 86% of soldiers rated the overall realism of the VR convoy as ranging from adequate to excellent. Eighty-two percent of soldiers reported adequate-to-excellent overall realism of the city environment. Results provide evidence that the VR Iraq presents a realistic context in which VR exposure therapy can be conducted. However, clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of VR exposure therapy for Iraq veterans with PTSD.
Mental health concerns have been documented in soldiers postdeployed from Iraq or Afghanistan, but information is limited regarding individuals directed to deploy again. Routine screening assessed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, panic, and hazardous alcohol consumption among 443 soldiers after returning from deployment and again before the next deployment. Initial rates for meeting screening criteria were under 9% with most around 5%. The average number of symptoms reported for depression, anxiety, and alcohol consumption decreased from first to second screening, as did the percentage of participants who met screening criteria for hazardous alcohol consumption. No change was observed on other screening measures. The findings suggest that mental health symptoms remain stable or decline for soldiers repeating deployment.
Clergy spouses experience various life stressors, yet many cope and function effectively in the midst of their daily challenges. Mental health professionals were asked to identify wives of male clergy who exemplify emotional and spiritual health. Nominees were contacted and interviews conducted with 25 women. Each interviewee was asked about coping with normal life stressors, stressors associated with being married to a minister, and catastrophic life events. All interviews were transcribed and coded, using grounded theory. Participants emphasized the importance of spirituality, social support, limit-setting, and healthy lifestyle choices. Implications are discussed.Today's trend toward a more positive psychology has heightened psychologists' awareness of human strength, potential, and resilience. Some of the constructs within positive psychology can be described and experienced without assuming any contrasting negative experience. For example, people can experience gratitude, optimism, wisdom, hope, creativity, and self-esteem whether or not their lives are relatively free of troubles. Other constructs in the burgeoning positive psychology literature are implicitly coupled with life's challenges and difficulties. For example, forgiveness requires that some sort of distressing offense has first occurred. Similarly, problem-solving abilities presume that there is a problem to be solved. Moreover, positive coping can only be understood when considered alongside the struggles, challenges, and stresses of life. Thus, research on the positive psychology of coping (Schwarzer and Knoll 2003) also requires some awareness of issues such as stress, loss, and conflict.Clergy and clergy families provide an intriguing population for coping research because they face a good deal of stress on a daily basis (
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.