While?post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?occurs throughout the U.S. population, military veterans are particularly at risk. Some studies estimate that up to 30 percent of the vets who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD. The disorder, which is caused by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, can result in anxiety, flashbacks and more. The condition can affect family members, too, damaging marriages, triggering mental health problems for spouses, and causing social, behavioral, and academic difficulties in children.
Given the overwhelming need for PTSD services, families are increasingly turning to non-VA community resources, such as primary care physicians, behavioral health centers and hospitals. However, service-related PTSD differs in important respects from other forms of the disorder, and both government and non-government organizations are rushing to educate providers about evidence-based treatments. For instance, the VA offers a PTSD Consultation Program for Community Providers that gives free training, information, and consultation to non-VA health professionals.
