PTSD RESEARCH PAPER PSY 222 Essay

Running head: Increased combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Cases amongst U.S. military



Increased Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Cases Amongst U.S. Military Personnel Participating In Armed Conflict In Iraq And Afghanistan
Joshua J. Gobin
Campbell University
General Psychology 222 / Dr. Mike Howard







Abstract
Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. military has become involved in two major military conflicts in the Middle East. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan possess the distinct potentiality of becoming prolonged struggles. The costs of military service are substantial. Among the most pervasive and potentially debilitating consequences of these costs is the threat to the psychological health of our nation’s fighting forces, their families, and their survivors. There are troubling initial signs that soldiers from the U.S. military are reluctant to seek help.   Career soldiers are very concerned about stigma and may be ashamed of opening themselves up to professionals. They are also very concerned about taking on a 'weak' persona and expect that it will negatively impact their careers.






"They are in front of us, behind us, and we are flanked on both sides by an
enemy that outnumbers us 29:1. They can't get away from us now!"
Lewis B. "Chesty Puller," USMC
This research paper will specifically focus on an increase of "reported" combat related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cases amongst U.S. military personnel involved in armed conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Other related forms of PTSD trauma from such events as rape, sexual abuse, or other terrifying events in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened will not be covered in this research paper.

Since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the U.S. military has become involved in two major military conflicts in the Middle East. The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq possess the distinct potentiality of becoming...