Mental Health Nearly 40 of Research Paper

New findings show that the spouses of veterans also experience mental health disorders, and the prevalence increases with the length of deployment (Mansfield, Kaufman, Marshall, Gaynes, Morrissey & Engel, 2010). When spouses are considered to be clients of health services, the need for improved and more robust resources becomes apparent. Moreover, spouses with mental health disorders present unique issues and questions for treatment. Returning soldiers may find that they have supportive partners who can lead to a mutually beneficial treatment relationship, via couples or family therapy. On the other hand, the mental health problems of the spouse can exacerbate those of the soldier, and vice-versa. Thus, a family systems approach can be extremely helpful when addressing the multifaceted mental health concerns among veterans.

Veteran health services are at a critical juncture. The need for targeted mental health interventions, ranging from screenings and assessments to therapies and treatments, has been proven unequivocally. Moreover, the types of mental health illnesses that manifest in veteran communities can be readily matched with corresponding treatments. Barriers like stigma need to be overcome, lest Americans find themselves doing a great disservice to armed service personnel.

References

Britt, T.W., Greene-Shortridge, T.M. & Castro, C.A. (2007). The Stigma of Mental Health Problems in the Military. Military Medicine 172(2), February 2007, pp. 157-161(5)

Bliese, P.D., Wright, K.M., Adler, a.B., Thomas, J.L. & Hoge, C.W. (2007). Timing of postcombat mental health assessments. Psychological Services 4(3), Aug 2007, 141-148.

Hoge, C.W., Auchterlonie, J.L. & Milliken, C.S. (2006). Mental Health Problems, Use of Mental Health Services, and Attrition From Military Service After Returning From Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. JAMA. 2006;295(9):1023-1032. doi:10.1001/jama.295.9.1023.

Hoge, C.W., Castro, C.A., Messer, S.C., McGurk, D., Cotting, D.I. & Koffman, R.L. (2004). Combat Duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mental Health Problems, and Barriers to Care. N Engl J. Med 2004; 351:13-22July 1, 2004 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa040603

Kim, P.Y., Thomas, J.L., Wilk, J.E., Castro, C.A. & Hoge, C.W. (2010). Stigma, Barriers to Care, and Use of Mental Health Services Among Active Duty and National Guard Soldiers After Combat. Psychiatric Services 2010-61(6). Retrieved online: http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=101416

Mansfield, a.J., Kaufman, J.S., Marshall, S.W., Gaynes, B.N., Morrissey, J.P. & Engel, C.C. (2010). Deployment and the Use of Mental Health Services among U.S. Army Wives. N Engl J. Med 2010; 362:101-109January 14, 2010 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0900177

Milliken, C.S., Auchterlonie, J.L., & Hoge, C.W. (2007). Longitudinal Assessment of Mental Health Problems Among Active and Reserve Component Soldiers Returning From the Iraq War. JAMA 298(18):2141-2148. doi:10.1001/jama.298.18.2141

Reger MA, Gahm GA, Swanson RD, Duma SJ (2009). Association between number of deployments to Iraq and mental health screening outcomes in U.S. Army soldiers. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry [2009, 70(9):1266-1272]

Seal, K.H., Metzler, T.J., Gima, K.S., Bertenthal, D., Maguen, S. & Marmar, C.R. (2009). Trends and Risk Factors for Mental Health Diagnoses Among Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Using Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care, 2002 -- 2008. American Journal of Public Health 99(9).

Thomas, J.L., Wilk, J.E., Riviere, L.A., McGurk, D, Castro, C.A. & Hoge, C.W. (2010). Prevalence of Mental Health Problems and Functional Impairment Among Active Component…