PTSD in Military Populations

What you'll learn

Course overview

Focuses on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in active duty service members and veteran populations, including factors that put military personnel at risk for developing PTSD, symptoms and diagnostic criteria for PTSD, resources available to military personnel suffering from PTSD, and the impact PTSD has on military families. PTSD is a mental health issue that individuals may develop following a life-threatening or traumatic event, such as during combat, a natural disaster, accident, or assault. Service members and veterans are particularly susceptible to experiencing PTSD due to the nature of events that they may experience or witness during combat. The number of veterans with PTSD varies and ranges from approximately 11-30% depending on the service era. PTSD may lead to and/or be associated with a host of other related problems, such as anger, depression, chronic pain, sleep problems, substance abuse, and suicide. Nurses and other healthcare professionals must be aware of PTSD in the military population and veterans, including appropriate screening and assessment for early recognition and initiation of treatment. This program reviews risk factors for military and veterans developing PTSD, symptoms and diagnostic criteria for PTSD, the impact PTSD has on military families, and available resources for military personnel suffering from PTSD.