Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

Contents:

Combat veterans and survivors of violence, natural disasters, and terrorism have often experienced disturbing events that may lead to psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). RAND research has evaluated the delivery of post-deployment mental health care to combat veterans, examined the treatment capacity of health care systems in response to PTSD, and estimated the costs of providing quality mental health care to all affected individuals.

Research conducted by: RAND Health; RAND National Security Research Division; RAND Project AIR FORCE; RAND Arroyo Center; RAND Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment; RAND Gulf States Policy Institute; Invisible Wounds of War Project

Featured at RAND

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Vulnerable Populations

June is National PTSD Awareness Month and June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day, providing an opportunity to recognize the challenges faced by survivors of trauma who live with PTSD symptoms. RAND research is helping increase awareness about the disorder and inform policy about how to prevent and address it.

RAND Assesses Post-Deployment Health-Related Needs of Iraq Veterans

The Invisible Wounds of War Study assessed Iraq veterans' health-related needs associated with PTSD, major depression, and traumatic brain injury; examined the treatment capacity of the current health care system; and estimated the costs of providing quality health care to all military members who need it.

Journal Articles (58)

A Multi-Sample Confirmatory Factor Analysis of PTSD Symptoms: What Exactly Is Wrong with the DSM-IV Structure? — Dec 28, 2012

Within the DSM-IV, PTSD symptoms are rationally classified as assessing one of three symptom domains: reexperiencing, avoidance/numbing, or hyperarousal. However, two alternative four-factor models have been advocated as superior to the DSM-IV framework.

Impact of Prolonged Exposure on PTSD Symptoms and Associated Psychopathology in People Living with HIV: A Randomized Test of Concept — Jul 1, 2012

The present study tested the efficacy of prolonged exposure (PE) at reducing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS), depression, negative posttraumatic cognitions, and substance use in people living with HIV (PLWH).

A Population-Based Survey of Mental Disorders in Singapore — Feb 1, 2012

Mental illnesses are not only a growing public health concern but also a major social and economic issue affecting individuals and families throughout the world.

Abbreviated PTSD Checklist (PCL) as a Guide to Clinical Response — Jan 1, 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate two abbreviated versions of the PTSD Checklist (PCL), a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as an index of change related to treatment.

Responding to Students with PTSD in Schools — Jan 1, 2012

Students who have experienced a traumatic event are at increased risk for academic, social, and emotional problems as a result of these experiences.

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools — Jan 1, 2012

The Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools Program is a targeted intervention for school children who have experienced a traumatic or violent event and have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Effects on School Outcomes in Low-Income Minority Youth: Preliminary Findings from a Community-Partnered Study of a School-Based Trauma Intervention — Jun 1, 2011

Through a collaborative partnership between school staff and researchers, preliminary evidence suggests that receiving a school trauma intervention soon after screening compared to delaying treatment can result in better school grades.

Prioritizing "psychological" Consequences for Disaster Preparedness and Response: A Framework for Addressing the Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Effects of Patient Surge in Large-Scale Disasters — Mar 1, 2011

Health care facilities may be prepared to deal with the medical aspects of large-scale disasters but they lack guidelines for managing the psychological aspects of disasters.

Making Sense of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Illness Perceptions Among Traumatic Injury Survivors — Mar 1, 2011

What traumatic stress survivors believe about PTSD may make it difficult for them to recognize that they have a serious mental health condition that warrants treatment.

Discrimination as a Key Mediator of the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress and HIV Treatment Adherence Among African American Men — Feb 1, 2011

This study highlights the critical role that discrimination plays in adherence to antiretroviral therapy among African American men experiencing posttraumatic stress.

Developing Medical Record-Based Performance Indicators to Measure the Quality of Mental Healthcare — Jan 15, 2011

This paper presents the methodology used to develop a comprehensive set of performance indicators in a national evaluation of the mental healthcare delivered by the Veterans Health Administration.

Invisible Wounds, Visible Savings? Using Microsimulation to Estimate the Costs and Savings Associated with Providing Evidence-Based Treatment for PTSD and Depression to Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom — Jan 1, 2011

This study simulated the social costs and savings of providing universal access to care for depression and PTSD to troops returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Care for Veterans with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: Good Performance, but Room to Improve on Many Measures — Jan 1, 2011

The 15 % of veterans with mental health illness accounted for about one-third of total VA costs, mostly for non-mental health conditions. VA quality of care was generally better than care in private plans, but quality varied across VA regions.

Screening for Psychiatric Problems in the Orofacial Trauma Setting — May 1, 2010

This article reviews some common short screeners for PTSD and major depression.

Anxiety Sensitivity and PTSD Symptom Severity Are Reciprocally Related: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study of Physical Trauma Survivors — Feb 1, 2010

Individuals who are sensitive to anxety are likely to suffer from more severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depression After Trauma Center Hospitalization — Jan 1, 2010

Key demographic and injury characteristics could help to identify trauma survivors who are at increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression and would benefit from targeted screening, patient education, and early intervention efforts.

All PTSD Symptoms Are Highly Associated with General Distress: Ramifications for the Dysphoria Symptom Cluster — Jan 1, 2010

All symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly associated with those of general distress, which calls into question a model that separates the two.

Transforming Mental Healthcare in the Veterans Health Administration: A Model for Measuring Performance to Improve Access, Quality, and Outcomes — Jan 1, 2010

This paper describes the conceptual framework and research design of a national evaluation of the quality of mental healthcare provided to veterans by the Veterans Health Administration, and present results on the reported availability of evidence-based practices.

Functioning and Disability Levels in Primary Care Out-Patients with One or More Anxiety Disorders — Jan 1, 2010

A majority of primary care patients with anxiety disorders have more than one type. All are disabling, but focusing on just one is inadequate because impairment is greater for those who have multiple anxiety disorders.

Disparate Prevalence Estimates of PTSD Among Service Members Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan: Possible Explanations — Jan 1, 2010

The authors reviewed 29 studies that provide prevalence estimates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among service members previously deployed to Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and their non-U.S. military counterparts. Combat exposure is the only correlate consistently associated with PTSD.

My RAND ?

Saved Items

Recommended

View My Profile

Explore

Broader Topics

Similar Topics

Explore All Topics »

Researcher Spotlight

Rajeev Ramchand

Behavioral Scientist

Rajeev Ramchand

Rajeev Ramchand is a behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His research focuses on four areas: (1) psychosocial risk factors for adolescent delinquency (e.g., substance use, criminal offending); (2) consequences of substance use from…

Lynsay Ayer

Associate Behavioral & Social Scientist

Lynsay Ayer is an associate behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. Her research is focused on stress reactivity, trauma, and related psychopathology (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders). Her work at RAND includes research in areas such as youth violence…

Explore Our People »