Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Combat Veteran

Deployment and the experiences of war are lifechanging events for the brave men and women who serve in the military. Confronted daily with the emotional and physical traumas of war, their resiliency is tested. Although many veterans learn to adapt to these stressful situations, for some veterans these traumas are so severe that they result in a psychological condition known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After 13 years of continued fi ghting, PTSD is gaining attention as a signifi cant mental health disorder in the growing veteran population. The goal of this column is to bring to light the invisible wound that veterans bear with the diagnosis of PTSD. We begin by defi ning PTSD, its symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and identifi able risk factors. Next, we review the relevance of PTSD in the veteran population along with known barriers to care and then explore common co-occurring conditions along with providing information regarding evidence-based treatment options. Finally, we examine the role of the nurse in identifying and treating veterans with PTSD.