Research Proposal
University of Phoenix
Psych/610
Brandy
6/8/15

Introduction
Statement of Problem
The issue being examined has to do with active duty soldiers and their PTSD that they encountered while on active duty. The issue being examined also has to do with treatment during or after active duty. This is significant due to the effects of PTSD on soldiers and in order to determine if PTSD can be slowed before it reaches its peak or if soldiers should wait until they are no longer serving to seek treatment. According to Winter (2009), “Hotopf assessed a large probability sample of initial invasion troops from the UK with diverse roles in OIF 1-2 years post deployment and compared their PTSD rates with non-deployed troops. Using the PCL, they found relatively low and comparable rates of probable PTSD (4%). Subsets that subsequently deployed during the OIF insurgency war did not have higher rates. By contrast, PCL-based probable PTSD rates were appreciably lower among the non-deployed service member”.
The reason behind recording this information is because it is crucial in determining whether or not soldiers should receive treatment for PTSD during or after active duty. There have been many tests done finding results of PTSD in active/non active duty soldiers. Those results rank higher when it comes to PTSD being much more of an issue for active duty servicemen. Therefore, making PTSD a point of interest when it comes to treating it promptly and not waiting until the soldiers become inactive or non-deployed.
Review of Literature
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a disorder that occurs after a person has seen or experienced traumatic events (generally reoccurring) such as sexual abuse, life threatening events, chronic stress, etc. Traumatic events such as war, disaster, and assault are generally what causes PTSD in men and women who have served time in the service. “When in danger, it’s natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger” (NIMH, 2014). There are many people that suffer from this debilitating illness, many of which happen to be related to the military I one way or another. Often enough, PTSD is not treated or not treated properly in which case the disorder may become worse or even cause life stressors. PTSD is also known to cause one to become unable to function normally and live their life accordingly. It affects many things including insomnia, irritability, anger issues, social anxiety, becoming detached/distant, etc. “One in five veterans suffers with combat-related post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and struggles to reintegrate back into society. Help is available, but many veterans continue to needlessly suffer for a number of reasons. Many veterans go to their civilian primary care physician (PCP) than to the doctors at the VA for treatment of their PTSD symptoms. What's needed is increased education for both primary care physicians and veterans when it comes to PTSD” (Croft, 2015). If PTSD were treated correctly and promptly, the effects of it may be lessened sooner and the chance of dealing with it long term would be much less.
Purpose of Study
The purpose of this research proposal is to determine whether treatment for soldiers early on will be in their favor rather than waiting until they are out of the service where their PTSD may have worsened. Soldiers with PTSD will be studied as well as the area of treatment and whether or not it would be more beneficial during active duty or after time has been served. It is important to study this area due to finding a cure or lessening the effects of PTSD early on rather than waiting until it has affected military member’s full force. Waiting until an active duty military member is un-deployed or inactive may be a serious negative aspect to their present and future lives. PSTD is a disorder that will affect the rest of one’s life if it not dealt with and treated right away. Treating this disorder when it first becomes an issue is what seems to be the better option vs waiting until one is out of the military. The first few weeks after trauma has occurred is very important in determining and treating those who may have suffered. Some people do not get better on their own, where others do. This is where the determination of treatment comes in. If one is treated and supported right after the traumatic exposure this will help control future issues.
Hypothesis/Research Questions
The questions being asked will represent soldiers and their condition. The questions will also represent treatment that may or may not be beneficial for active duty soldiers. They are related to the issue as a whole because they will determine if treatment is necessary and beneficial. The hypothesis that will be evaluated with this issue will be that yes, treatment during active duty will be beneficial in reducing later effects of PTSD. In this study the hypothesis should conclude that early treatment will drastically reduce later effects; preventing chronic PTSD. * Do active duty soldiers need treatment for PTSD? * Should the soldiers seek treatment while still active? * Should the soldiers wait until they are non-active in the service to seek treatment? * What type of treatment would be best to treat PTSD in active duty soldiers? * How will treatment benefit the soldiers during active duty, if at all?

Definition of Terms

* PTSD- a form of chronic anxiety caused by traumatic events that causes things such as nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia, irritability, etc. * Military- a word that relates one to the armed forces. Branches include the Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard, Air Force * Fight or flight response- a psychological reaction that occurs when one feels threatened. * Active duty- a full time occupation related to one of the branches of the military forces * Treatment- the act/method of dealing with something in need * Traumatic events- “A traumatic event is an incident that causes physical, emotional, psychological, or mental harm. The person experiencing the distressing event may feel threatened, anxious, or frightened as a result. In some cases, they may not know how to respond, or may be in denial about the effect such an event has had. The person will need support and time to recover from the traumatic event and regain emotional and mental stability” (Cafasso, 2012). * Therapy- a term used to describe different forms of treatment such as disorders and diseases. Therapy comes in many different ways and forms including. Psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, medication, etc.

1. Metho
The data would be collected by gathering soldiers that are active duty and giving them the appropriate treatment for PTSD. One group of soldiers would be tested while in active duty and one group tested that are no longer active. Treatment would be provided to active duty soldiers and non-active duty soldiers to identify where the best results would come into play. Of course treatment varies per person, so in order to get the best results therapy and SSRI medications will have to be involved within the groups.

References
Cafasso, J. (2012). Traumatic Events. Retrieved on June 7, 2015 from http://www.healthline.com/health/traumatic-events#Overview1 Croft, H. (2015). Recognizing the “Silent Killer” of the Military: PTSD. Retrieved on June3, 2015 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harry-croft-md/ptsd-in-the-military_b_3981211.html NIMH (2014). What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Retrieved on June 7, 2015 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml Schenwar. M. (2009). PTSD Ignored on Active Duty. Retrieved on May 19, 2015 from http://www.truth-out.org/archive/component/k2/item/85139:ptsd-ignored-on-active-duty Vergun, D. (2012). Army Standardizes PTSD Diagnosis, Treatment. Retrieved on May 18, 2015 from http://www.army.mil/article/84928 Vergun, D. (2012). Study finds Soldiers’ PTSD Diagnosis Accurate. Retrieved on May 19, 2015 from http://www.army.mil/article/98145/ Winter, (2009). PTSD Research Quarterly. Retrieved on June 8, 2015 from
www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/V20N1.pdf