Posttraumatic stress, family adjustment, and treatment preferences among national guard soldiers deployed to OEF/OIF

Abstract

We used an anonymous self-reported questionnaire to assess posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, relationship concerns, and treatment preferences including interest in family-focused interventions among 100 National Guard Soldiers who were recently redeployed from Iraq or Afghanistan. We found that the majority of married or partnered soldiers were concerned about getting along with their partners, while the majority of parents were concerned about their child-rearing practices. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were signifi cantly associated with the degree of relationship concerns. Soldiers showed a striking preference for family-based interventions over individual treatment, highlighting the importance of developing family-based interventions tailored to address post-deployment mental health and co-occurring family problems. Copyright © Association of Military Surgeons of the US. All rights reserved.