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Amelia Rader

Professor Cassel

English Comp II

March 20th, 2022

Literature Review

How can PTSD best be managed? When one hears Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or

PTSD for short, most think of military service members because this is where the disorder

was thought to be most common and has been brought the most attention to the disorder. It

has become more known as time passes that this is a disorder that faces many individuals, not

just members of our military. From abuse victims, accident victims, attack victims, witnesses

to various crimes, family of military members, and this only brings mention to a select few.

Due to this there are growing resources available to these individuals but knowing what route

to follow can be overwhelming. In this research the aim is to highlight the best paths to

follow. There are many different avenues to follow when treating PTSD.

As previously stated, PTSD effects many people. There are a growing number of

outlets to utilize when reaching out for help regarding treatment to PTSD. PTSD is a serious

problem that effects the mental health of many. It is no longer as much of a stigma as it used

to be. There are even outlets through Social Networking. There is a lot of information

available regarding Evidence-based medicine. Counseling is an obvious starting point for

most in the pursuit of the diagnoses and treatment of PTSD.

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Present-day armed forces have caused distinct challenges for members of the armed

forces and their family members. Through almost fifteen years of incessant wars in Iraq,

Afghanistan, and in the Middle East. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among current armed

forces and veterans is a considerable public health concern of which the community of mental

health has been slow in response. Initial PTSD treatments approach focus primarily on the

symptoms and discomfort of each armed forces member taking little if any consideration of the

relationships and roles of the family, this includes parenting.  “We make the case that family-

based approaches are a critical next step in our collective efforts to meet the needs of those

suffering from PTSD and their loved ones. Keywords: families, family-based theory, family-

based treatment, military families, parenting, PTSD, social-ecological theory” (Devoe).

Veterans are more likely to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Caretakers

and those providing support to individuals with PTSD may face unique challenges because of

this illness. In the article “Older Adults as Caregivers for Veterans with PTSD”, we review

PTSD's symptoms and treatment options, and discuss how older individuals can help support a

veteran with PTSD. Understanding the communication pitfalls, long-term care issues, and

resources available to caregivers will help prepare caregivers to assist a veteran with PTSD

(Klippel/Sullivan).

African American urban communities are highly affected by traumatic stress and

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and these conditions are associated with unhealthy

behaviors such as tobacco consumption. Churches can reduce traumatic stress-related health

risks through support and resources. Accordingly, we investigated the influence of weekly

church attendance on the relations between (a) traumatic event exposure and likely post-

traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and (b) probable PTSD and tobacco use. Several churches on
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the West Side of Chicago were sampled as part of a health surveillance study. Findings support

church attendance as a potential buffer of trauma‐related stress (Mathew).

Veterans often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Physical and mental

health can be negatively impacted by persistent symptoms into late life. It is well known that

exercise and social support are effective in treating anxiety disorders, such as PTSD, in the

general population. However, little is known about how exercise and social support affect

veterans who have lived with PTSD for decades. The objective of this study was to investigate

the associations between social connectedness, physical functioning, and self-reported changes in

PTSD symptoms in older Veterans who participated specifically in Gerofit. The intervention

design included prospective clinical interventions. “Conclusion: Veterans with PTSD that

participated in Gerofit group exercise reported symptom improvement, and social connectedness

was significantly associated with this improvement. In addition to physical health benefits, the

social context of Gerofit may offer a potential resource for improving PTSD symptoms in older

Veterans that warrants further study (Journal of the American Geriatrics So).

Among nearly 700 students who are enrolled in a state comprehensive university either

on campus or online is the Green Zone Initiative, which addresses their needs. There has never

been a time in history when service members have reintegrated into civilian life like this.

Veterans in the U.S. are experiencing a great deal of stress from traumatic brain injuries, Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the civilian-military divide that is relevant to this war. “The

purpose of the Green Zone Initiative is to educate and equip faculty and staff to identify those

needs and provide support and direction to those resources (Journal of Veterans Studies).
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Works Cited

DeVoe, Ellen R., et al. “PTSD Intervention with Military Service Member Parents: A Call

for Relational Approaches.” Best Practices in Mental Health, vol. 14, no. 1, Mar.

2018, p. 40. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.582635328&site=eds-live.

Klippel, Cory, and Greg Sullivan. “Older Adults as Caregivers for Veterans with

PTSD.” Generations, vol. 42, no. 3, Fall 2018, pp. 41–46. EBSCOhost,

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=132584749&site=ehost-live.

Mathew, Amanda R., et al. “Trauma Exposure, PTSD Symptoms, and Tobacco Use: Does

Church Attendance Buffer Negative Effects?” Journal of Community Psychology,

vol. 48, no. 7, Sept. 2020, pp. 2364–74. EBSCOhost,

https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22420.

Seth Kastle, et al. “The Green Zone Initiative: Combining Virtual and Face-to-Face

Training to Support Veterans in Higher Education.” Journal of Veterans Studies,

vol. 4, no. 2, July 2019, pp. 229–37. EBSCOhost,

https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v4i2.115.

Wilkins, Stacy Schantz, et al. “PTSD Improvement Associated with Social Connectedness

in Gerofit Veterans Exercise Program.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,

vol. 69, no. 4, Apr. 2021, pp. 1045–50. EBSCOhost,

https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16973.