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Psychological services for returning veterans and their families: evolving conceptualizations of the sequelae of war‐zone experiences
Author(s) -
Sammons Morgan T.,
Batten Sonja V.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.20519
Subject(s) - psychology , psychological resilience , military service , service member , service (business) , psychological trauma , military personnel , session (web analytics) , posttraumatic stress , psychological health , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , law , political science , economy , world wide web , computer science , economics
The provision of effective and timely behavioral health care for veterans returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan has become the focus of national attention. In this special issue, attempts to provide psychological care for service members and their families are examined in light of three key constructs. First, it is contended that at no other time in history has more attention been paid to the psychological consequences of engaging in combat. Second, for the first time in recorded warfare, psychological morbidity is likely to far outstrip physical injury associated with combat. Finally, although posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are serious concerns, most service members return without significant physical or psychological injury and will be able to return to functioning without notable problems. Accurate diagnosis, a focus on resilience, and the expectation of readjustment are essential precepts that should guide clinical efforts and resource allocation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 64:1–7, 2008.