PTSD in Veterans: Causes, Symptoms, and Social Work Support
This paper examines Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as it affects military veterans, drawing on historical research and contemporary evidence. It defines PTSD, outlines its biological and environmental causes, and describes its three primary symptom clusters: re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal. The paper then focuses specifically on why veterans face elevated risk, exploring factors such as the return to civilian life, social isolation, guilt, and exposure to triggering stimuli such as news coverage of terrorism. It concludes by discussing the role of social workers in helping veterans manage and recover from PTSD through counseling, cognitive reframing, and family involvement.
- Introduction: Canadian military suicides highlight rising veteran PTSD rates
- What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?: Clinical definition and fight-or-flight basis of PTSD
- Causes of PTSD: Genetic, neurological, and environmental causes explored
- Signs and Symptoms: Three symptom clusters: re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal
- Post-Traumatic Stress in Veterans: Why combat veterans face elevated PTSD risk and triggers
- Role of Social Workers: Counseling and family involvement in veteran PTSD recovery
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper moves logically from a general clinical definition of PTSD to a focused analysis of how it manifests in military veterans specifically, giving the argument a clear narrowing structure.
- It integrates historical scholarship (Kardiner, 1941) alongside contemporary news events (Canadian military suicides, 2013), grounding the discussion in both academic tradition and current relevance.
- The section on social workers provides a practical, solutions-oriented conclusion that balances the otherwise diagnostic tone of the paper.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of a definition-before-application structure: it first establishes what PTSD is clinically, then applies that framework to a specific population (veterans). This technique ensures readers have the conceptual vocabulary needed before encountering the more nuanced population-specific analysis, a useful model for health and social science writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a news-driven hook about Canadian military suicides, then provides a clinical definition and etiology of PTSD. The middle sections detail symptom clusters and explore why veterans are disproportionately affected. The final section pivots to intervention, describing the social worker's role in counseling and family engagement. The structure follows a classic problem-cause-effect-solution arc across six sections.
Introduction
The Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces has declared that the country should put more effort into treating the occurrences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicides among soldiers. In just one week, there were four Canadian military suicides (Fekete, 2013). These soldiers took their own lives after returning from war. It is well known that hundreds of thousands of men and women have lost their lives in numerous battles to date. Suffering even after war is over, and not being able to regain control of one's nerves, is a devastating reality. Countries like Canada and the United States are deeply concerned over the increasing rates of PTSD among veterans. These events demonstrate that PTSD amongst veterans is a serious and increasingly common problem.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that develops after a person experiences one or more traumatic events. PTSD is a very severe condition that typically follows traumatic events such as serious injury, threat of death, sexual assault, or near-death experiences. It is a psychological disorder, and its diagnosis is confirmed when a certain number of symptoms occur together. Although the name indicates that this disorder occurs after trauma, not every traumatic event will necessarily result in PTSD.
It is the body's normal response to prepare to defend itself whenever danger is nearby. This "fight-or-flight" reaction is a healthy response that yields positive benefits for the person who applies it. However, excess of anything is never good, and PTSD is a clear example of that. People who have PTSD continue to feel frightened or stressed even when they are not in any actual danger.
Causes of PTSD
Although trauma is the most obvious cause of PTSD, other contributing factors have been identified. Many scientists have stated that a person's genes can increase or decrease the risk of developing PTSD. The role of Stathmin and GRP in increasing the development of fearful memories is still under research. Even though genes and brain areas may be linked to the development of PTSD, many environmental factors — such as childhood trauma, a history of mental illness, or a head injury — can also affect its development.
A study by Bremner (1993) examined the relationship between combat-related PTSD and childhood trauma. The study revealed that persons seeking treatment for combat-linked PTSD had higher rates of childhood physical abuse compared to veterans who had not been diagnosed with PTSD. This finding underscores that the origins of PTSD are often multifactorial, combining prior vulnerability with the precipitating trauma of combat.
References
Douglas, J. (1993). Childhood physical abuse and combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 235–239.
Fekete, J. (2013). Military's 'stiff upper lip' attitude over PTSD needs to stop, Governor-General David Johnston says. National Post. Retrieved from
Kardiner, A. (1941). The traumatic neuroses of war. Psychosomatic Medicine Monographs, 2(1–3).
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