Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide for Families, 2d ed. (McFarland Health Topics)

This book is a user friendly discussion of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as it affects individuals and families. PTSD has become better known and more frequently diagnosed, and affects more than just military families. Causes, diagnosis and treatments, including counseling, medication, and alternative therapy, are discussed. The challenges faced by PTSD individuals and their families are addressed and recommendations are included. New to this edition is information regarding Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and the new policies and treatments in use as well as information about women war veterans, who are a newer demographic for combat PTSD. Title ......Page 4 Copyright ......Page 5 Table of Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Introduction......Page 20 1. What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?......Page 26 2. How Is PTSD Diagnosed, and by Whom?......Page 48 3. Who Is at Risk for PTSD? Can PTSD be Prevented?......Page 56 4. Cross-Cultural Perspectives......Page 65 5. PTSD and the Individual......Page 79 6. PTSD and the Family......Page 91 7. Can PTSD Families Be Healthy Families?......Page 106 8. Treatment for PTSD: Counseling......Page 120 9. Treatment for PTSD: Medication......Page 147 10. Complementary Techniques for Treating PTSD......Page 162 11. Living with PTSD......Page 175 12. Trends in PTSD Research and Treatment......Page 182 Conclusion......Page 186 Appendix A......Page 192 Appendix B......Page 194 Appendix C......Page 196 Appendix D......Page 198 Appendix E......Page 200 Appendix F......Page 208 References......Page 216 Index......Page 226 Describes how the characteristics of PTSD manifest in daily life and details its effects on the emotional, mental, and physical aspects of an individual's life. It analyzes the affect of PTSD on the couple and the family; explains how and by whom the disorder is diagnosed; and describes mental health approaches to treatment, such as individual, group, and substance abuse counselling. "This book is a user friendly discussion of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as it affects individuals and families. New to this edition is information regarding Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and the new policies and treatments in use as well as information about women war veterans, who are a newer demographic for combat PTSD"-- Provided by publisher