The Relation of the Anxiety Buffer Disruption Theory on the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Deployed Combat Troops

Introduction

From 2001 to present, the Department of Defense (DOD) has reported 6,379 deaths and 47,603 injuries resulting from campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq (DOD, 2012). Yet, more soldiers fall victim to behavioral health issues and self-destructive behavior than conventional injury (Thomsen, Stander, McWhorter, & Rabenhorst, 2011). Of the 1.6 million service members that have deployed, almost one-third will report some form of mental health condition stemming from their deployment (Tanielian & Jaycox, 2008).

Current Research and Programs

Many soldiers have experience longer tours and multiple deployments which has increased their rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of mental illness (Shen, Arkes, Kwan, Tan, & Williams, 2010). Research has correlated combat exposure with increased potential for suicide and risk of further mental health issues (Bryan, Cukrowicz, West, & Morrow, 2010; Shen, Arkes, Kwan, Tan, & Williams, 2010). The reality is that this statistic is merely a superficial look at the underlining truth. Researchers have also suspected and found that there are many more that suffer from mental health problems, but refuse to seek help (Hoge, et al., 2004; Stecker & Fortney, 2011).

Much of this research to date has been based on preparatory psychoeducation and hands on coping (Houraini, Council, Hubal, & Strange, 2011). The belief is that the understanding of the complex reactions and the teaching of self-efficacy through coping skills will mitigate the impact trauma will have on a service member (2011). Primarily, majority of the researchers have based their theory on the concepts of cognitive and behavioral interactions at the micro and meso-level of intervention. By focusing large ...

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...ety buffer disruption theory: a terror managment account of posttramatic stress disorder. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 3-26.

Shen, Y.-C., Arkes, J., Kwan, B. W., Tan, L. Y., & Williams, T. V. (2010). Effects of Iraq/Afghanistan Deployments on PTSD Diagnoses for Still Active Personnel in All Four Services. Military Medicine(175), 763-769.

Tanielian, T., & Jaycox, L. (2008). Invisible Wounds Mental Health and Cognitive Care Needs of America’s Returning Veterans. Retrieved from RAND Corporation: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9336/index1.html

The Soldier's Blue Book. (2010). Retrieved from US Army: http://www.jackson.army.mil/sites/dss/docs/131

Thomsen, C., Stander, V., McWhorter, S., & Rabenhorst, M. (2011). Effects on combat deployment on risky and self-destructive behavior among activy duty military personnel. Journal of PsychatricRresearch, 1321-1331.