Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Case Study

Pt. has been in the program for over 3 years and she is currently in Phase 0. Pt. has participated in the AMS of De methadone clinic, she has been able to achieve abstinence from illicit drugs but she is failing to comply with the mandatory counseling sessions. Pt. is now eligible to receive phase 1 take home privileges if she maintains satisfactory attendance and scheduled appointments. Pt. identified her children as a motivational factor to change and to reinforce the importance of remaining in recovery. Pt. was advised to obtain a sponsor and attend 12 Step meetings. Pt. has done in achieving her goal of maintaining financial compliance despite the holiday financial stress. Pt. seemed to accumulate a back balance, but normally pays for late account balance in full upon notice of an administrative taper.

Under 38 C.F.R. § 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9411, a 50 percent schedular rating is said to be appropriate when there is evidence of occupational and social impairment due to a variety of symptoms such as, flattened affect, circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty in understanding complex commands, impairment of short- and long-term memory, impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. Given that our veteran was reported by the VA psychiatrist as exhibiting symptoms of memory impairment, difficulty in establishing relationships, and twice-weekly panic attacks, it is clear that a 50 percent rating should be given for the time frame

As awareness grows relating to the mental health problems of those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), much of the focus has been on providing adequate and effective care to the newest population of combat veterans. Although efforts have significantly increased with the employment of Evidence Based Practices (EBP) and while the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA), have updated their clinical practice guidelines, barriers remain and reaching the majority of this particular population remains a challenge.

Many soldiers who come back from combat are not the same, for example Lieutenant (Lt) Tori Stitt was one of them. Richard Weinmeyer, who has a master’s degree in bioethics and law degree with concentrations in health law and bioethics, states that, “Lt Tori Stitt found herself while in Iraq having nightmares and problems sleeping, withdrawing from others socially, and, soon, drinking to cope with her psychological issues” (1). “Upon returning to the United States when her tour of duty was over, her drinking intensified and her mental anguish grew so great that she began contemplating suicide” (Weinmeyer 1). Tori was using treatment to help “regain some control over her life again, but she still struggled with the nightmares, flashbacks, and

Over the last decade, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have drastically increased the need for effective mental health services and treatment for U.S. veterans and service members, especially those suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Nearly 1.5 million American service members have been deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) since the attack on the Twin Towers in September 2001 (Price, Gros, Strachan, Ruggiero, & Acierno, 2013). Approximately 25% of soldiers and wounded warriors returning home from OEF/OIF present with mental illness due to combat-related violence and other trauma exposure (Steinberg & Eisner, 2015). According to Price and colleagues (2013), OEF/OIF soldiers and veterans are at greater risk for developing mental illness compared to others who served in past military operations.

The mission statement of the VA Social Workers is to eliminate significant barriers to clients in need and offer interventions for veterans and families. It is accomplished by developing and maintaining integrated, in-depth programs in patient care, research, and education (Hoffer, Elizabeth. F., Dekle, Judith. Ward., & Sheets, Carol., 2014). Its proposed 11 percent to 20 percent of Iraq, Afghanistan veterans as well as 30 percent of Vietnam vets encounter (PTSD) posttraumatic stress disorder traumatic incidents like combat can lead to PTSD, military sexual trauma of military service member, and veterans may possibly deal with depression, anxiety in addition to other mental health concerns. Vets distress from these mental health and cognitive

Rates of trauma and mental illness are reported to be disproportionately higher among American veterans, especially those of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The barriers to care after civilian reentry further disadvantage this already vulnerable population. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been the longest sustained US military operations since the Vietnam era, sending more than 2.2 million troops into battle and resulting in more than 6,600 deaths and 48,000 injuries. Veterans are at risk mental health challenges, as well as family instability, elevated rates of homelessness, and joblessness. Veterans have disproportionate rates of mental illness, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse disorders, depression, anxiety, and military sexual trauma.

Veteran has four admission and discharges in CAVHS in her record: June 2012 (3K); August 2012 (3K); March 2014 (SICU); July 2014 (3K). She has also received care from Biloxi and Texas VAMC 's in the past. Veteran served in the US Army between October/2004 to March/2004, with an Entry Level Separation (ELS- Medical) discharge and her highest rank were an E-3. Veteran reported she received an injury while

Many veterans are unable to leave behind the trauma of Vietnam and psychologically return home. They struggle with a variety of extremely severe problems that neither they nor their families, friends, or communities knew how to understand

Bennett, PhD; Hilary J. Liberty, Ph 2013 107). Prior research has evaluated the prevalence of MH concerns and opportunities for treatment at various points in the military/veteran career including post deployment, among those being treated at Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, and in the general population) (Andrew Golub, PhD; Peter Vazan, PhD; Alexander S. Bennett, PhD; Hilary J. Liberty, Ph 2013 107). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data indicate that a substantial portion of young veterans in the general population have substance use disorder (18%) or Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) (14%) (Andrew Golub, PhD; Peter Vazan, PhD; Alexander S. Bennett, PhD; Hilary J. Liberty, Ph 2013 111). All in all, the NSDUH proved to be an extremely valuable resource for this study, and indeed, the results of this analysis for unmet treatment needs have identified important directions for further research into reasons for not getting treatment, especially for SPD (Andrew Golub, PhD; Peter Vazan, PhD; Alexander S. Bennett, PhD; Hilary J. Liberty, Ph 2013 113). The Veterans Administration and National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) are taking steps in the right direction to help our veterans with their unmet needs with substance abuse and PTSD. Some examples of improvements are, better mental health evaluations before leaving active duty, more information about military service, and tracking trends among veterans in the general population, who are not necessarily in contact with the

In the book, Sanchez, (1995) focuses on ethnic studies and how prior to World War II, Mexican Americans had formed a unique identity that was not oriented toward Mexico but America, their new home. Despite facing unequal opportunity in social and economic spheres, immigrants nevertheless proceeded to build cohesive communities and strove to adapt their cultural identity to the American way. Mexican immigrants were beset by pressures from America to assimilate to the American way while facing more pressure from Mexico to remain loyal. In response, however, Mexican immigrants found the middle ground where they remained Mexican while being American citizens. In the analysis, the book alludes to cultural identity as stipulated by Stuart Hall where cultural identity is regarded as becoming and being.

Go Ask Alice is a famous frequently challenged journal by ”Anonymous”, an impressionable teenage journalist that details her fall into the depths of drug culture within the late 1960s and early 1970s. This novel was published in 1971 by Prentice Hall and although, it has been claimed to be taken from a real diary, there’s significant evidence that proves that the journal was fabricated and a work of fiction. Beatrice Sparks, one of the editors of the book is most likely the true author of Go Ask Alice and wrote it as a way to persuade teens to not pursue reckless decisions. The book is highly suspicious and does not portray youth accurately or keep the story authentic. The most prominent example being when Alice goes on a rant about adolescent risk-taking statistics that her drug counselor told her in the class.

“The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is home to the United States’ largest integrated health care system” (Mason e.t. al 2016). Because of technological and medical advancement, surviving injuries from war has lead to a greater need for post deployment and discharge care. I often hear the phrase “Freedom is not free”; the mental health of our active duty soldiers and veterans is one area that ends up costing America. Some lose time with their families, some are injured physically and mentally, and some lose their lives.

The TRACE campaign was a marketing initiative dedicated to targeting minority millennials in the United States. The brand discovered that this target audience relied heavily on brand experience, in addition to innovation within a brand. Also, another insight the brand found with this audience, is that they wanted to see themselves portrayed in advertising. Ultimately, TRACE’s main goal was to increase market share and brand awareness amongst this growing population. Through further research, TRACE discovered that each demographic had needs that could be fulfilled by the brand.

According to a Tanielian and Jaycox (2008) study, as of September 2014 there were approximately 2.7 million American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars”. Of the 2.7 million at least 20% of the veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan wars obtained PTSD and/or depression. However, it was noted that when interviewed, the military counselors stated that they believe that the percentage rate of veterans with PTSD was much higher. The number is said to continue to increase when combined with traumatic brain injury (TBI).