My invisible PTSD: Exploring the experiences of recovery in treatment seeking veterans

Abstract

Pearson et al. / My Invisible PTSD Pg. 2 understanding the barriers or facilitators to accessing treatment (Murphy, Hunt, Luzon & Greenberg, 2013). Research suggests that a common barrier to seeking treatment is stigma (Iversen et al., 2011). Additionally, self-stigmatising beliefs are a common barrier for veterans who report not seeking help, as doing so would cause them to feel weak (Sharpe et al., 2015). The role of stigmatizing beliefs in help-seeking has largely been investigated quantitatively, finding a strong, negative relationship between self-stigma and help-seeking in the veteran population (Coleman, Stevelink, Hatch, Denny, & Greenberg, 2017; Murphy, Palmer & Busuttill, 2016). There is a paucity of research investigating the factors that enable veterans to seek help. However, studies suggest that some factors that compel veterans to seek treatment include: family and friends, psychoeducation, severity of symptoms, and level of distress (Sayer et al., 2009; Pilkington, Msetfi & Watson, 2011; Kim, Britt, Klocko, Riviere, & Adler, 2011). Yet research is sparse into the experiences of these veterans who do access treatment for PTSD and what their lives are like beyond treatment; do they experience recovery and, if so, what supports this process or makes it more challenging? (Iversen et al., 2009). Young and Ensing (1999) defined recovery as an individual's unique journey to overcoming "stuckness," improving their quality of life, and redefining themselves following distress. This research also highlights the importance of spirituality and supportive relationships when seeking help for mental health difficulties, along with a return to basic functioning (e.g., taking care of oneself, eating) as symbolic of being "recovered" (Young & Ensing, 1999). In comparison, some researchers link recovery with post-traumatic growth (PTG), which has been described as the positive changes that some people experience following exposure to traumatic events, such as enhanced personal strength or spiritual change (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). Research suggests that there is a relationship between improvements in symptoms of PTSD and depression with regard to higher levels of PTG (Murphy et al., 2016). Brewin, Garnett, and Andrews (2011) undertook a mixed-methods analysis of veteran's views on their lives post-treatment; they found themes that link with the idea of PTG such as enhanced relationships. However, the study is limited, as the aim was not for thorough exploration of veterans' recovery experiences, thus factors which may have brought about change were not studied. Further research is needed into the actual experiences of veterans who seek treatment and how they define their experience of recovery. The present study aims to qualitatively investigate three main questions: how do veterans make sense of their lives following a diagnosis of PTSD? What factors facilitated their pathway to recovery? And what challenges have they experienced during their process of recovery? Methods The qualitative methodology Interpretive Ph...

Mental health treatment experiences of commonwealth veterans from diverse ethnic backgrounds who have served in the UK military

“…The findings in the current study appear to suggest that CW veterans report different barriers in comparison to UK veterans who had accessed support from the same clinical service. The CW veterans reported experiencing more shame around admitting their difficulties to their families and professionals 17. Thus, increasing the knowledge of the early warning signs of mental health problems should be a priority in minority populations, whereas general work around decreasing stigmatising views may be more suited to UK veterans.…”

“My Scar”: Posttraumatic Loneliness as a Source of Pain and Resource for Coping

“…Because loneliness is a contextual experience formed by subjective interpretations, interpretive phenomenological tools were an ideal way to explore the participants’ levels of meaning thoroughly. This method had been previously used when studying veteran populations (e.g., Pearson et al, 2019 ; Ray & Vanstone, 2009 ).…”

Integrated Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Comorbid Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Study with a Military Veteran

“…Other barriers include limited access to suitable services. They also include complexity due to comorbid problems including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, substance abuse, and lack of social support (Pearson et al, 2019; Reisman, 2016). Research also suggests that these barriers can contribute to poorer treatment response in veterans compared to non-veterans (Forbes et al, 2019).…”

“…The NICE (2018) guidelines recommend that careful planning and adapting existing interventions can enhance the chances of successful treatment for trauma cases. Furthermore, a study by Pearson et al (2019) highlighted the importance of psychoeducation and family involvement as key interventions in the treatment of veteran PTSD. There is also research evidence to support the importance of multidisciplinary management of comorbid physical health problems during PTSD treatment (Sharp et al, 2019).…”