Reducing Combat Nightmares in Vets

Researchers from the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston evaluated a group treatment called "Imagery Rescripting and Exposure Therapy" (IRET) for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic posttraumatic nightmares. (There is a good summary of imagery rescripting tx here.)

IRET is a variant of a successful imagery rescripting treatment for civilian trauma-related nightmares that was modified to address the needs of the Veteran population.

Thirty-seven male U.S. Veterans with PTSD and nightmares attended 6 multi-component group sessions. Findings indicated that the intervention significantly reduced frequency of nightmares and PTSD severity, as well as increased hours of sleep.

Unlike the few open trials examining treatment of nightmares in Veterans, effect sizes in this study were similar to those that have been found in the civilian randomized controlled trial. These preliminary findings suggest that a nightmare treatment can be adapted to successfully reduce distress associated with combat Veterans' chronic nightmares.

http://belleruthnaparstek.com/hot-research/reducing-combat-nightmares-in-vets.html

Female Vets Navigate Post-War Stress, Home Duties

The first in a series about the challenges female veterans face as they transition to civilian life.

America's female veteran population has grown to an estimated 1.9 million, and the Department of Veterans Affairs projects 50,000 more servicewomen will join that population in the next five years. When they return, many will pick up where they left off, as mothers, wives and caretakers.

In Philadelphia, some female veterans are dealing with family responsibilities while still struggling to cope with the lingering effects of war.

During a recent visit to the Philadelphia Veteran's Affairs Hospital, Louise Hawthorne was between appointments. Hawthorne is a disabled veteran from the first Gulf War, over a decade ago. She was a chemical operations specialist, dealing regularly with radioactive material and biological weapons.

BY: JEN HOWARD 

http://www.wbez.org/story/2011-08-29/female-vets-navigate-post-war-stress-home-duties-91227