Predictors of Help-Seeking Intentions in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans and Service Members

Porcari, Carole; Koch, Ellen I.; Rauch, Sheila A. M.; Hoodin, Flora; Ellison, Grant; McSweeney, Lauren B.

doi:10.7205/milmed-d-16-00105

Cited by 18 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This was to maintain confidentiality and privacy for veterans who may have felt self-conscious or stigmatized if others in the military were aware of their attendance. As noted earlier, this is a known deterrent to seeking help and engaging in therapeutic activity, especially among military and ex-military (Jain, et al, 2012;Porcari, et al, 2017) Participants gave informed consent after registering for the dancing program and prior to answering any of the questions on the three pre-program assessments. Participants in the program were assured that they did not need to consent to having this data collected in order to participate in the dance program.…”

Section: Methods Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We envisioned an experience that would allow for regular, routine, reintegration of body, mind, family, and community for those already under medical and psychotherapeutic treatment. The experience would have to be something that facilitated being part of a wider community, would involve physical activity and interactivity, could include family members and friends (Batten, et al, 2009;Fischer, Sherman, Han, & Owen, 2013;Hawkins, McQuire, Britt, & Linder, 2015;Porcari, et al, 2017), would be accessible to beginners but still engaging for the more advanced, would involve predictable patterns and movement, and would provide safety from intrusive memories, unpredictable behaviors and emotions, and the still-prevalent stigma associated with military and ex-military seeking mental health help (Khaylis, Polusny, Erbes, Gewirtz, & Rath, 2011;Hoge, et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Pilot Data on Effects of Community Dance for Veterans with PTSD and their Family Members

Gustafson

Corbitt

Denenfeld³

et al. 2019

JVS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Prior research has shown that there are several symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that are persistently hard to treat and critically important for full recovery. Community reintegration can be an especially challenging aspect of returning home from combat duty. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a community dance program on some of these psychological symptoms. Community dance has been shown to strengthen cognitive plasticity which is often a problem for veterans with PTSD. This program also includes predictable gentle touch and family involvement, two elements that can predict stress reduction and successful community reintegration in those with PTSD. Before and after each ten-week community dance program, seventeen veterans and accompanying family members were measured on connectedness using the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, Revised (INQ-R) (Van Orden, Witte, Gordon, Bender, & Joiner, 2008), experience avoidance using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Version 2 (AAQ-II) (Bond, et al., 2011), and hope and optimism using a modified Life Orientation Test, Revised questionnaire (LOT-r) Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), combined into a wellness score. Each ten-week program consisted of weekly, 90-minute community dances with live music and a nationally recognized dance caller. We found improvements in wellness scores for all participants, regardless of PTSD status, partial h 2 =0.52. We think this program, and programs like it, show great promise in treating some of the most persistent symptoms of PTSD in veterans and in their families.

show abstract

Section: Methods Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot Data on Effects of Community Dance for Veterans with PTSD and their Family Members

Gustafson

Corbitt

Denenfeld³

et al. 2019

JVS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…8 Barriers to seeking or completing conventional therapies include concerns about the invasiveness of treatment, lack of emotional readiness for treatment, stigma associated with having a mental health condition, and logistical issues. 9,10 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder†

Cushing¹,

Braun

Alden

et al. 2018

Military Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Among veterans of post-9/11 conflicts, estimates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) range from 9% shortly after returning from deployment to 31% a year after deployment. Clinical and pharmaceutically based treatments are underutilized. This could be due to concerns related to lost duty days, as well as PTSD patients’ fears of stigma of having a mental health condition. Yoga has been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms in the civilian population, but few studies have tested the impact of yoga on veterans of post-9/11 conflicts. The purpose of this study is to test the impact of yoga on post-9/11 veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Materials and Methods: Participants were 18 yr of age or older and veterans of post-9/11 conflicts. They had subthreshold or diagnostic-level PTSD related to their combat military service, as determined by a score of 30 or higher on the PTSD Checklist-Military version (PCL-M). Veterans participated in 60-min weekly yoga sessions for 6 wk taught by a Warriors at Ease-trained yoga instructor who is a, post-9/11 veteran. The yoga sessions incorporated Vinyasa-style yoga and a trauma-sensitive, military-culture informed approach advocated by two separate organizations: Warriors at Ease and Meghan’s Foundation. Data were collected at baseline and again after 7 wk. The primary outcome was PCL-M score. Participants also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale at both time points. Results: Eighteen Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans completed the pre- and post-intervention self-report questionnaires. Age ranged from 26 to 62 yr (median = 43 yr), length of service ranged from 2 to 34 yr (median = 18.8 yr), and 13 (72.2%) had completed college. Decreased PTSD symptomatology was demonstrated in the three-symptom clusters represented in the PCL-M (i.e., hyperarousal, re-experiencing, and avoidance). In addition, the total score on the PCL-M decreased significantly, by both statistical and clinical measures. The participants also demonstrated improved mindfulness scores and reported decreased insomnia, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a trauma-sensitive yoga intervention may be effective for veterans with PTSD symptoms, whether as stand-alone or adjunctive therapy. The impressive decrease in PTSD symptomatology may be due to the tailored military-specific nature of this intervention and the fact that it was led by a veteran of post-9/11 conflicts. More research is needed with a larger sample and a more diverse veteran population.

show abstract

“…For example, Seal et al (2009), found in their study with 289,328 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans entering Veterans Affairs (VA) health care from 2002 to 2008, that mental health diagnoses increased substantially after the start of the Iraq war, especially among veterans younger than 25 years old. Yet, consistent with the general population, the prevalence of treatment-seeking for mental health problems is between 23 and 58 percent (Clement et al 2014;Henderson et al 2013;Ouimette et al 2011;Porcari et al 2017;Rosen et al 2011;Stecker et al 2007). Considering that, for the most part, both military personnel and veterans have access to a universal healthcare system, understanding what might increase or decrease the propensity to seek treatment for mental health problems among military veterans is an important area of investigation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evidence for the first two factors of HBM are established in the literature investigating treatment-seeking for mental health among veterans. Symptom severity and greater impairment are consistently reported to be associated with seeking treatment for mental health problems among OIF/OEF veterans (DeViva et al 2016 ; Hines et al 2014 ; Porcari et al 2017 ; Rosen et al 2011 ). Evidence for the cost/benefit factor related to stigma and treatment-seeking described by the HBM has however, received inconsistent support, possibly due to methodological challenges (Sharp et al 2015 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptom Severity, Self-efficacy and Treatment-Seeking for Mental Health Among US Iraq/Afghanistan Military Veterans

Keeling

Barr

Atuel

et al. 2020

Community Ment Health J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Military veterans have high rates of mental health problems, yet the majority do not seek treatment. Understanding treatmentseeking in this population is important. This study investigated if symptom severity and self-efficacy are associated with treatment-seeking among US Iraq/Afghanistan veterans. Survey data from 525 veterans meeting clinical criteria for PTSD and depression were included of which, 54.4% had sought treatment in the past 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that high symptom severity was associated with treatment seeking, whereas high self-efficacy was associated with a decreased likelihood to seek treatment. Self-efficacy could be an underlying mechanism of treatment seeking decisions.

show abstract

Predictors of Help-Seeking Intentions in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans and Service Members

Cited by 18 publications

References 34 publications

Pilot Data on Effects of Community Dance for Veterans with PTSD and their Family Members

Pilot Data on Effects of Community Dance for Veterans with PTSD and their Family Members

Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder†

Symptom Severity, Self-efficacy and Treatment-Seeking for Mental Health Among US Iraq/Afghanistan Military Veterans

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About