![]() ![]() The impact of psychological distress is reflected in the high rates of suicide in this population. Several stressor types that do not constitute life- threatening situations have been found to correlate with PTSD such as witnessing atrocities, the loss of close friends and the act of killing.8 Carrying out a traumatic act, such as killing in combat, has been identified as equally psychologically damaging when compared to being subjected to trauma.9 Clinicians began to notice that engaging in killing had a psychological impact on the veteran population as early as the 1970s.10ĭespite being trained to kill, evidence suggests that the act of killing in combat can cause significant psychological distress. Research into PTSD and the origins of psychological distress in combat veterans supports this notion. However, more recent evidence demonstrates that PTSD encompasses many different emotions, for example, guilt, shame and anger, not solely fear.6 This has led to changes in how PTSD is classified-the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) removed PTSD from the anxiety disorder classification and placed it under its own category titled ‘Trauma and Stressor-related Disorders’. These types of trauma events support a more traditional view that PTSD develops from a fear-based trauma. Exposure to more intense combat1 and exposure to life-threatening situations 5 are known combat-related risk factors for PTSD. Active deployment is expected to increase the risk of exposure to a traumatic event and therefore, subsequent mental health difficulties. 3Ī recent UK paper identified that rates of PTSD, common mental disorders and alcohol misuse are higher amongst veterans who deployed to conflicts when compared with those who did not deploy, 4 suggesting that deployment is a factor that increases the risk of mental disorders. 2 In a United States (US) study of Iraq war veterans, 17% were found to meet criteria for PTSD. Recent literature identified that 20% of Australian veterans and 17% of United Kingdom (UK) veterans, who had deployed overseas, met criteria for PTSD. 1 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one possible consequence faced by those from all nations of experiencing military trauma. Military trauma is reported to result in higher levels of psychological distress than other traumatic events. There was no funding for this project, and there are no conflicts of interest. Key words: Post-traumatic stress, combat, killing, military, veteranĬonflict of interest and acknowledgements: This literature review was completed within the context of a research article thesis submission as partial requirement for the professional doctorate in clinical psychology under the supervision of Dr Helen Scott, Staffordshire University and Dr Rachel Paskell, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust. Future research should aim to recruit military participants from different populations and address some of the difficulties with recruitment-ensuring samples are representative and generalisable. Factors such as gender and victim characteristics may be influencing factors.Ĭonclusion: The impact of killing during combat must be considered when working therapeutically with military and veteran populations. Results: The literature suggests that those who kill during combat are more likely to report symptoms of PTSD however, disparity exists as to the statistical significance of this relationship. A critical appraisal tool was used to inform data extraction and guide the literature review. Method: A search of existing literature was conducted in a systematic manner in 2017 using electronic databases. Purpose: This review provides a synthesis of existing literature, addressing the specific question: what is known about the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and killing in combat? It summarises what is known of the relationship between these variables and the clinical implications of these findings. For those working with military and veteran populations, it is essential to be able to understand this experience and any psychological ramifications. Background: Killing during combat is a unique experience and, for the majority, is limited to military service.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |