CONCLUSION
The American Psychiatric Association first introduced the diagnosis of PTSD in 1980, and since then it has been the subject of much ongoing study and research. Evidence shows that there are numerous and variable situations that can lead to the development of PTSD as well as a variable time span in which the disorder may make itself known. There is yet much to be learned about this complex disorder and how best to treat it. It is necessary, however, that healthcare professionals, regardless of the specialty or clinical situation in which they work, have a baseline understanding of how this disorder presents and the most current interventions available to both patients and support persons.
Healthcare professionals should make veterans under their care aware that specialists provide regular outpatient care to veterans with PTSD symptoms in each VA medical center in the United States, even if there it has no specific PTSD program. Special residential or inpatient care programs can be found in each region of the country, and providers offer added PTSD care in some of the VA’s large community-based outpatient clinics. VA medical centers or clinics can also provide counseling via telemental healthcare.
RESOURCES
National Center for PTSD (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
Posttraumatic stress disorder (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
PTSD treatment (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
West Virginia PTSD Program (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
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NOTE: Complete URLs for references retrieved from online sources are provided in the PDF of this course.
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