Veterans' Perspectives on Benefits and Drawbacks of Peer Support for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Hundt, Natalie E.; Robinson, Andrew; Arney, Jennifer; Stanley, Melinda A.; Cully, Jeffrey A.

doi:10.7205/milmed-d-14-00536

Cited by 72 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In a qualitative study of 23 veterans with PTSD, Hundt and colleagues found that veterans felt positively about peer-support interventions and anticipated benefits such as social support, normalization of symptoms, and increased initiation and adherence to adjuvant treatment. 58 Study participants expressed preference for peer-support groups segregated by specific trauma type and era of service, supporting the intent of our research to focus on post-9/11 veterans.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder†

Cushing¹,

Braun

Alden

et al. 2018

Military Medicine

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Introduction: Among veterans of post-9/11 conflicts, estimates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) range from 9% shortly after returning from deployment to 31% a year after deployment. Clinical and pharmaceutically based treatments are underutilized. This could be due to concerns related to lost duty days, as well as PTSD patients’ fears of stigma of having a mental health condition. Yoga has been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms in the civilian population, but few studies have tested the impact of yoga on veterans of post-9/11 conflicts. The purpose of this study is to test the impact of yoga on post-9/11 veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Materials and Methods: Participants were 18 yr of age or older and veterans of post-9/11 conflicts. They had subthreshold or diagnostic-level PTSD related to their combat military service, as determined by a score of 30 or higher on the PTSD Checklist-Military version (PCL-M). Veterans participated in 60-min weekly yoga sessions for 6 wk taught by a Warriors at Ease-trained yoga instructor who is a, post-9/11 veteran. The yoga sessions incorporated Vinyasa-style yoga and a trauma-sensitive, military-culture informed approach advocated by two separate organizations: Warriors at Ease and Meghan’s Foundation. Data were collected at baseline and again after 7 wk. The primary outcome was PCL-M score. Participants also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale at both time points. Results: Eighteen Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans completed the pre- and post-intervention self-report questionnaires. Age ranged from 26 to 62 yr (median = 43 yr), length of service ranged from 2 to 34 yr (median = 18.8 yr), and 13 (72.2%) had completed college. Decreased PTSD symptomatology was demonstrated in the three-symptom clusters represented in the PCL-M (i.e., hyperarousal, re-experiencing, and avoidance). In addition, the total score on the PCL-M decreased significantly, by both statistical and clinical measures. The participants also demonstrated improved mindfulness scores and reported decreased insomnia, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a trauma-sensitive yoga intervention may be effective for veterans with PTSD symptoms, whether as stand-alone or adjunctive therapy. The impressive decrease in PTSD symptomatology may be due to the tailored military-specific nature of this intervention and the fact that it was led by a veteran of post-9/11 conflicts. More research is needed with a larger sample and a more diverse veteran population.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder†

Cushing¹,

Braun

Alden

et al. 2018

Military Medicine

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“…Along these lines of interpersonal connectedness and building on the core value of camaraderie articulated by veterans in this study, community-based interventions that incorporate veteran peers may be an important strategy to improve mental health outcomes. For example, research supports the unique benefits of veteran peer support specialists as an integrated component of treatment, with veterans reporting increased social and emotional support, stigma-reduction, and adherence (Hundt, Robinson, Arney, Stanley, & Cully, 2015). In addition, recent findings have indicated that veteran peer contact is associated with higher attendance and lower dropout during psychotherapy among a sample of 102 Post-9/11 treatment-seeking veterans (Goetter et al, 2018).…”

Section: Communication With Non-military Connected Personsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Military Culture and Post-Military Transitioning Among Veterans: A Qualitative Analysis

McCormick

Currier

Isaak

et al. 2019

JVS

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While a considerable amount of theoretical literature has explored core values and characteristics of the US Armed Forces, limited empirical research has examined veterans' accounts of military culture. To elucidate military culture and help inform ongoing efforts to incorporate military culture into the provision of healthcare services for veterans, seven focus groups (n = 44) were conducted with diverse groups of veterans to provide their first-hand accounts on these topics. Content analysis of their responses yielded four broad clusters: (1) descriptions of military culture and values (e.g., patriotism, camaraderie, discipline); (2) conflict with values during military service (e.g., betrayed by politicians and/or bureaucracy, internal conflict of killing); (3) cultural changes post-military service (e.g., continuity of military culture, disparate from civilian culture, interpersonal difficulties); and (4) communication with non-military connected persons (e.g., I do not talk about military experiences, I only talk with other veterans). The results expand upon prior conceptualizations of military culture and provide preliminary implications for integrating military culture into healthcare service provisions for veterans. Furthermore, this study highlights the need for further empirical research on the internalization and longer-term impact of military culture to better address the needs of US military veterans.

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“…One systematic review expressed the need for additional research on the value of peer support on diabetes outcomes . Veterans have reported favourable experiences with peer‐support programmes , but less well known is the mechanics of how social support from peers helps veterans . Clinicians' experiences and perceptions of social support are rarely described, especially within the context of face‐to‐face group self‐management programmes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The value of peer support for self‐management of diabetes among veterans in the Empowering Patients In Chronic care intervention

et al. 2020

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Aim To examine the value of peer support in the self-management of diabetes among veterans in an integrated health care system. Methods We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with veterans and clinicians 6 months after their participation in Empowering Patients in Chronic Care (EPIC), a group-based diabetes intervention with a peer-support component. Interviews elicited clinicians' narratives of how peer support unfolded in the groups and veterans' experiences of giving and receiving support from their peers. Data analysis was guided by principles of framework analysis using Heisler's peer-support model. ResultsFindings support Heisler's peer-support model and provide evidence supporting professional-led group visits with peer exchange. Clinicians and veterans endorsed informational and emotional support received in EPIC groups. Clinicians often referred to EPIC as an open forum or a support group where veterans could both give and receive help. Veterans noted the benefits of shared problem-solving and the support they received. Clinicians and veterans perceived the peer-support component of EPIC as facilitating increased empowerment in terms of self-efficacy, increased perceived social support and increased understanding of self-care. Ultimately, many veterans acknowledged that their participation in EPIC facilitated improved health-related quality of life, improved health behaviours and improved chronic disease control.Conclusions Findings emphasize the value of peer support in managing chronic illness. Peer-support programmes may address veterans' unique challenges and have the potential to improve physical and mental health.

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Veterans' Perspectives on Benefits and Drawbacks of Peer Support for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Cited by 72 publications

References 15 publications

Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder†

Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder†

Military Culture and Post-Military Transitioning Among Veterans: A Qualitative Analysis

The value of peer support for self‐management of diabetes among veterans in the Empowering Patients In Chronic care intervention

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