Contextualizing Military Health and Trauma: Recommendations for Integrated Care and Couple-Centered Interventions

Abstract

Military personnel and their family members are currently facing risks to their health and well-being, yet interventions such as prevention and treatment remain unsuccessful for many families. For instance, almost one-quarter of a million returning troops have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the estimated prevalence of PTSD is grossly underestimated due to ineffective assessment. Further, only half of military PTSD sufferers are finding relief in their treatment. Through this literature review, assessment, prevention, and treatment recommendations to improve health outcomes for military personnel are provided by expanding previous medical models and incorporating biopsychorelational principles and data.

Keywords:

• Military couples
• biopsychosocial
• integrated care
• PTSD