Understanding Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

This introduction to the invisible wound of war, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, explains the historical development of PTSD, its myriad symptoms and the most effective psychological and medical treatments. Combining the basic tenets of cognitive psychotherapy and his own military experience, the author explores such topics as PTSD’s effects on families and spouses, fear and anxiety, memory difficulties, feelings of guilt or anger, depression and suicidal thoughts, and others. Because it is a hidden, psychological wound, veterans afflicted with PTSD may find it difficult to understand their symptoms. Veterans and their families can better understand PTSD by reading this book.

Walter F. McDermott, Ph.D., a Vietnam combat veteran, is a retired clinical psychologist who treated combat PTSD veterans for nearly 30 years, mainly at the Jacksonville, Florida, Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic’s Mental Health Unit. He lives in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

Walter F. McDermott

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 210
Bibliographic Info: notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6946-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9096-7
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

1. Introduction      3
2. History of Combat Disorders      7
3. Symptoms and Diagnosis of PTSD      10
4. Post Trauma PTSD Rates      12
5. Family Difficulties      16
6. The Veteran’s Spouse      19
7. Psychotherapy      24
8. Cognitive Psychotherapy      33
9. Shattered Assumptions      39
10. Fear and Anxiety      48
11. Psychological Treatments of Fear      56
12. Memory Difficulties      67
13. Nightmares and Flashbacks      74
14. Social Avoidance      83
15. Guilt      94
16. Anger and Violence      105
17. Depression and Suicidal Thoughts      114
18. Low Self-Esteem      134
19. Substance Abuse      141
20. Medications      144
21. Experimental Treatments      152
22. Chronic Pain and PTSD      155
23. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD      172
24. Special Combat Veteran Populations      179

Resources for the Combat Veteran      187
Notes      189
Bibliography      193
Index      199