Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Military Families
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Military Families
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves numerous symptoms for sufferers, but the family members around that individual must endure those symptoms as well. Individuals living within the home of a returning military member may struggle with the symptoms associated with the military member’s illness. The individual with the illness often exhibits symptomatic withdrawal from his family (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), which can have long lasting effects on the relationships within the family unit. The impulsiveness and over-excitability associated with PTSD could also play a role in the family dynamics (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The purpose of this literature review is to address the following research question: What effects do the symptoms of PTSD cause for children and spouses of individuals diagnosed with the disorder? The hypothesis to be investigated follows: An effect exists on families from PTSD in military members. Numerous researchers have studied the family units of individuals with PTSD. In one study, Allen, Rhoades, Stanley, and Markman (2010) attempted to measure the stress incurred on a marital relationship in relation to recent deployments and diagnosis of PTSD. The levels of numerous aspects of the marital relationship were examined with couples in which the male partner had a positive diagnosis of PTSD. While this study showed the sample population attributed certain marital discords to PTSD, the sample may not represent the military population at large. Indeed, the authors of this study divulged a flaw in the sampling process as the inability to fully represent all military couples. The couples chosen in this sample offered to participate in a marital research project, rather than having a sample randomly selected. Another important study of relationships involving PTSD was conducted by Gewirtz, Polusny, DeGarmo, Khaylis, and Erbes (2010).
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves numerous symptoms for sufferers, but the family members around that individual must endure those symptoms as well. Individuals living within the home of a returning military member may struggle with the symptoms associated with the military member’s illness. The individual with the illness often exhibits symptomatic withdrawal from his family (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), which can have long lasting effects on the relationships within the family unit. The impulsiveness and over-excitability associated with PTSD could also play a role in the family dynamics (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The purpose of this literature review is to address the following research question: What effects do the symptoms of PTSD cause for children and spouses of individuals diagnosed with the disorder? The hypothesis to be investigated follows: An effect exists on families from PTSD in military members. Numerous researchers have studied the family units of individuals with PTSD. In one study, Allen, Rhoades, Stanley, and Markman (2010) attempted to measure the stress incurred on a marital relationship in relation to recent deployments and diagnosis of PTSD. The levels of numerous aspects of the marital relationship were examined with couples in which the male partner had a positive diagnosis of PTSD. While this study showed the sample population attributed certain marital discords to PTSD, the sample may not represent the military population at large. Indeed, the authors of this study divulged a flaw in the sampling process as the inability to fully represent all military couples. The couples chosen in this sample offered to participate in a marital research project, rather than having a sample randomly selected. Another important study of relationships involving PTSD was conducted by Gewirtz, Polusny, DeGarmo, Khaylis, and Erbes (2010).
References: Park, N. (2011). Military children and families: Strengths and challenges during peace and war. American Psychologist, 66(1), 65-72. doi:10.1037/a0021249 Renshaw, K Riggs, S. A., & Riggs, D. S. (2011). Risk and resilience in military families experiencing deployment: The role of the family attachment network. Journal of Family Psychology, 25(5), 675-687. doi:10.1037/a0025286 Sheppard, S Walker, R. L., Clark, M. E., & Sanders, S. H. (2010). The “Post-deployment multi-symptom disorder”: An emerging syndrome in need of a new treatment paradigm. Psychological Services, 7(3), 136-147. doi:10.1037/a0019684