Psychological Care of Veterans
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Module3Lecture.pptxPsychological Care of Veterans: Module 3
Psychosocial Issues Faced by Veterans
1
First, let’s be (somewhat) clear on some terms…
Psychological, behavioral, psychosocial, social, etc.
Psychological (broadest definition): refers more specifically to individual, internal psychological processes (e.g., thoughts and physiological feeling states) that may impact individual behavior.
In other words, how individuals think, feel, and behave.
Behavioral: interventions or conditions focused on the behavioral results of psychological conditions (NOTE: This does not ignore the fact that cognitions and emotions and social environment have parts to play! It is an emphasis that makes sense when we see the huge support and focus of building empirically-supported evidence.)
First, let’s be clear on some terms…
Psychological, behavioral, psychosocial, social, etc.
Social: of or pertaining to interpersonal interactions, groups, or cultures (that may impact thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals).
Psychosocial: of or pertaining to interpersonal interactions, groups, or cultures and how they might impact thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals (and vice versa).
May also be used to describe a collection of constructs that pertain to the “psychological” definition and the “social” definition, just combined.
What has the research found?
As you may have guessed, veterans, like any other human, could be diagnosed with any mental health condition. However, mental health conditions (yes, including PTSD) may occur more frequently in this population.
What has the research found?
Over and above what is found in the general population in the U.S., the following have been identified more frequently in those with a history of serving in the U.S. military:
Mental health conditions (general)
PTSD
Cancer
Diabetes
COPD
GERD
Hearing loss
Other mental health conditions commonly reported by veterans
Sleep (i.e., insomnia in more than half of post-9/11 veterans)
Personality disorders (with co-occurring PTSD, 45% - 79%, depending on outpatient/inpatient setting)
And those we covered earlier…
Mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder)
Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia)
Anxiety conditions
Substance use disorders
Co-occurring conditions (e.g., PTSD and substance use)
What about underrepresented/minority populations? (Wong et al., 2021)
ethnoracial minority compared to white
Non-Hispanic black: less SI, problem drinking, cigarette/smokeless tobacco use (similar trends also found for Hispanic and non-Hispanic-Asian groups)
However, for non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic Asian groups: more suicide attempts
female compared to male
Female: greater suicide behaviors (unclear if ethnoracial/sexual orientation differences accounted for this) and probable depression
Male: greater substance use (e.g., alcohol and tobacco products)
lesbian/gay/bisexual (most burden of disparities) compared to heterosexual
Gay/lesbian: greater SI, substance use (alcohol/tobacco products)
Bisexual: greater probable GAD, depression, PTSD, substance use issues
Sociocultural/environmental stressors may have accounted for many of these
How might veterans describe the mental health issues they experience?
TRIGGER WARNING: video(s) may contain descriptions and images of combat, including, but not limited to, IEDs, gun fire, bodily injuries of self (presenter) or fellow service members.
Overcoming Moral Injuries | Joshua Mantz | TEDxSantoDomingo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORBf73HiJns
Operation PTSD: Veterans Healing Themselves Through Meditation | Erik Younger | TEDxWilmingtonWomen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA1O5gmP4eg
PTSD and Returning to the Classroom | Thomas Burke Jr. | TEDxYale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBGNJQWSYHY
