Many veterans diagnosed with PTSD failing to seek adequate treatment

Although any traumatic event can trigger post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), most of those who suffer with the condition are military veterans.  With the number of conflicts that the United States has been party of in the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in those military personnel who are diagnosed with the disorder.  The military and the Department of Veteran Affairs have been developing new treatment options across the country to adequately keep up with the demand for mental health services.  Surprisingly, however, many veterans are not completing the full course of necessary treatment according to a study published in the most current issue of the Journal of Traumatic Stress.

Treatment programs for post traumatic stress disorder typically last between ten and twelve weeks for effective results.  The Veteran’s Administration follows these guidelines and requests that veterans take part in these programs.  Between 2002 and 2008, more than 230,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans were treated at Veteran’s Administration healthcare facilities for the first time.  Of these, about twenty percent, or 50,000, were newly diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.  A study found that despite the recommendations, less than ten percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, newly diagnosed, completed the necessary treatment.  This percentage only accounts for those who should have completed the treatment within four months.  When the study expanded the timeframe to an entire year, researchers found that thirty percent of the veterans were not completing treatment.

The study found that there were specific groups who were less likely to complete the treatment, including male veterans, young veterans (under twenty-five years of age), veterans living in rural areas, and those veterans who were diagnosed at primary care clinics, which then require a referral for mental health services.  Those conducting the study, as well as those in the Veteran’s Administration, believe that there are personal barriers, as well as systemic barriers that prevent patients from getting follow-up treatment.  Aside from the obvious reasons that these veterans should be completing the treatment, such as control of the disorder and ability to serve, there are also other reasons to seek the necessary therapy.  If a veteran, diagnosed with PTSD, does not complete treatment or otherwise shows disinterest in some form of therapy, he may have a difficult time receiving disability benefits later on.  An administrative law judge will want to see that a person has done all he could do to combat the effects of the disorder and that he desires to get better.  Attending treatment and trying various therapy options are some of the ways a person may do this.  If a person is still unable to work because of the disorder, despite treatment, a judge is much more likely to grant disability benefits.  This study shows that further, innovative work is needed to get these veterans to complete therapy in order to help them better manage the disorder.