Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops over time after exposure to or witnessing a traumatic event that is life threatening or that threatens the integrity of self or others, and that results in intense fear, horror, or helplessness (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, fear, memory loss, emotional numbing, insomnia, depression, decreased energy, hypersensitivities, hypervigilance, avoidance of social interaction, inability to concentrate, drug and alcohol use, engagement in self-injurious behaviors, concurrent physical and mental health disorders, and impairments in sensory processing, cognition, and emotional regulation. Symptoms appear or continue beyond 4 weeks after the traumatic event (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).
If unidentified and untreated initially, delayed onset PTSD can result in depression, social alienation, parenting and marital communication problems, and alcohol and drug abuse, resulting in a disruption in personal lives, professional abilities, and physical and mental health (Baum, 2008). A disruption in the military personnel's work role as a result of PTSD can be perceived as a lack of motivation or an inability to be successful in the work setting (Penk, Drebing, & Schutt, 2002). PTSD can have a negative impact on the individual’s ability to participate in self-care, domestic duties, education and work roles, and social and leisure interests, and to create and maintain meaningful relationships.
The role of an occupational therapist in treating service members with PTSD is to promote the health, participation, and reengagement of military personnel in daily life through meaningful and necessary occupations, and in family, community, and military or civilian roles. The OT will address the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors of military personnel with PTSD, and facilitate identification of barriers limiting recovery and participation in meaningful activities and life roles. The OT can educate military personnel and health care providers on signs and symptoms to detect PTSD early and to ensure that these individuals access support and receive adequate opportunities for prompt intervention services. The OT can educate service members with PTSD on strategies to help them stabilize symptoms, recover, compensate, or adapt in order to facilitate reengagement with meaningful activities necessary for daily life. The OT can educate military personnel with PTSD on strategies to facilitate self-management of the long-term consequences of the disorder and to manage health conditions associated with combat injuries, and also educate on relapse prevention through individual or group sessions . The OT can also teach coping strategies for symptom triggers to prevent anxiety and anger, train clients and families in adaptive and modified self-care strategies to avoid symptom triggers, and determine needs for home modifications. . The OT can facilitate planning and use of a daily routine and schedule, and address issues of substance abuse.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops over time after exposure to or witnessing a traumatic event that is life threatening or that threatens the integrity of self or others, and that results in intense fear, horror, or helplessness (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, fear, memory loss, emotional numbing, insomnia, depression, decreased energy, hypersensitivities, hypervigilance, avoidance of social interaction, inability to concentrate, drug and alcohol use, engagement in self-injurious behaviors, concurrent physical and mental health disorders, and impairments in sensory processing, cognition, and emotional regulation. Symptoms appear or continue beyond 4 weeks after the traumatic event (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).
If unidentified and untreated initially, delayed onset PTSD can result in depression, social alienation, parenting and marital communication problems, and alcohol and drug abuse, resulting in a disruption in personal lives, professional abilities, and physical and mental health (Baum, 2008). A disruption in the military personnel's work role as a result of PTSD can be perceived as a lack of motivation or an inability to be successful in the work setting (Penk, Drebing, & Schutt, 2002). PTSD can have a negative impact on the individual’s ability to participate in self-care, domestic duties, education and work roles, and social and leisure interests, and to create and maintain meaningful relationships.
The role of an occupational therapist in treating service members with PTSD is to promote the health, participation, and reengagement of military personnel in daily life through meaningful and necessary occupations, and in family, community, and military or civilian roles. The OT will address the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors of military personnel with PTSD, and facilitate identification of barriers limiting recovery and participation in meaningful activities and life roles. The OT can educate military personnel and health care providers on signs and symptoms to detect PTSD early and to ensure that these individuals access support and receive adequate opportunities for prompt intervention services. The OT can educate service members with PTSD on strategies to help them stabilize symptoms, recover, compensate, or adapt in order to facilitate reengagement with meaningful activities necessary for daily life. The OT can educate military personnel with PTSD on strategies to facilitate self-management of the long-term consequences of the disorder and to manage health conditions associated with combat injuries, and also educate on relapse prevention through individual or group sessions . The OT can also teach coping strategies for symptom triggers to prevent anxiety and anger, train clients and families in adaptive and modified self-care strategies to avoid symptom triggers, and determine needs for home modifications. . The OT can facilitate planning and use of a daily routine and schedule, and address issues of substance abuse.