Latino Veterans with PTSD: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Latinos have a long history of military service with recent service including combat conditions and multiple deployments, which are highly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinical acumen underscores the importance of culture in assessment and treatment, but there has been little scientific literature that investigates the unique needs of veteran Latinos with PTSD. The primary goal of this systematic review was to analyze the existing literature on Latino veterans with PTSD and to critically evaluate attention to cultural issues. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were used to guide this review. Peer-reviewed, research reports written in English on Latino Veterans with PTSD since 1980 were included; 20 were assessment related, and nine were treatment related. All studies were quantitative. Only 13 studies mentioned culture as part of the context for Latino veterans, and only seven included cultural factors as part of the study design. Present findings highlight a lack of research focused on understanding cultural factors related to the assessment and treatment of Latino veterans with PTSD. Culturally-informed research on Latino veterans from current wars, Latina veterans and Latino veteran treatment outcomes are necessary to provide culturally-appropriate care to this growing veteran subgroup.

Ethnoracial differences in PTSD symptoms and trauma-related cognitions in treatment-seeking active duty military personnel for PTSD.

“…In previous studies with veterans of color, observed ethnoracial differences in PTSD were explained by socioeconomic status and prior trauma (Pittman, 2014;Ruef et al, 2000). However, national studies have found that higher rates of PTSD persisted among African Americans even after combat was taken into account (Alegría et al, 2013;Roberts, Gilman, Breslau, Breslau, & Koenen, 2011).…”

“…Several studies failed to replicate this finding (Monnier, Elhai, Frueh, Sauvageot, & Magruder, 2002;Pittman, 2014). Hispanic/Latino veterans also endorse higher intrusive thoughts, avoidance, hyperarousal, and guilt compared with their White counterparts (Alcántara et al, 2013;Pittman, 2014).…”

Deconstructing PTSD: Trauma and emotion among Mexican immigrant women

“…In particular, we believe the PCL-C fails to account for symptoms which are more common in non-Western cultures. For instance, among Latinos in particular, those experiencing PTSD tend to report more somatic complaints, mostly pain or gastrointestinal distress (Duke, Moore, & Ames, 2011;Fierros & Smith, 2006;Pittman, 2014;Pole, Best, Metzler, & Marmar, 2005). Evidence for this in our study is exemplified by a 56-year-old woman born in southwest Mexico who was physically and emotionally abused by both her husband and her mother-in-law for over a decade.…”

A Scoping Review of Contemporary Social Work Practice With Veterans

“…Additionally, social work’s values as a profession focused on work with vulnerable populations can also focus future work. Already, authors are addressing the needs of veterans who identify as sexual and gender minorities (Alford & Lee, 2016; Goldbach & Castro, 2016; Pelts, Rolbiecki, & Albright, 2015; Ramirez et al, 2013), Latino (Duran, 2017; Pittman, 2014), Muslim (Abu-Ras & Hosein, 2015), and women (Dichter, Marcus, Wagner, & Bonomi, 2014). Social work’s unique perspective can continue to shape future research endeavors.…”