PTSD

The following are a serious of notes I have collected over my Winter Break 2010-2011

• PTSD is considered a chronic Trauma and one half of the USA veterans claim to have PTSD 10-12 years later after leaving their enlistment.

• In 1970, there wasn’t a term for Post-Traumatic stress disorder, yet help for those returning from overseas was available; “Brothers Helping Brother”.

• 1980 PTSD was diagnosed.

• PTSD is a disorder of avoidance; reason why it’s hard for those suffering from it to seek for help.

• New studies at the VA Hospital have come out two types of Group Therapy.

o Trauma Focused
o Present Focused

Trauma Focused
• 10 % drop-out rate
• Involved in sessions and home-based exposure
• Additional sessions and skill building (anger management and social support)

Present Focused
• Here and Now group
• Modest emphasis on process way
• No discussion of specific traumatic events

Both groups
• 12 men in group
• 30 week treatment
• 2 therapists
• 90 min sessions
• Assessments @ 7 and 12 months

Case Management Center
• Help for legal problems
• Financial
• Employment
• Legal/criminal
• Alcohol/substance abuse

Comparison between Single Therapy and Group Therapy
Single Format
• Easier to conduct outreach
• More suitable for addressing specific area, etc.
• More flexible
• Easier to engage consumer, especially in early stage of illness

Group Format
• More economical for the provider
• Social support provided by other consumers
• Less vulnerable to effect staff turnover
• Easier to provide multiple source of input to consumers