Prevention and care of combat-related PTSD: directions for future explorations

In the past decade, military personnel supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have faced multiple deployments and repeated traumatic stressors. Despite efforts to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other combat-related emotional difficulties, a significant number of military personnel experience psychological injuries during and following their deployments. Despite increased attention to prevention and treatment of these problems, it is clear that substantially more work is required to fully understand the emotional impact of combat and to better intervene to prevent potentially chronic problems. In the present article, the authors discuss possible avenues for future research and interventions (clinical and otherwise) to better prevent the development of combat-related PTSD. We discuss screening, assessment, education, and intervention for PTSD throughout the deployment cycle. In this discussion, we attend to both the needs of the current cohort of combat veterans and the potential advances that may mitigate the severity and chronicity of post-traumatic problems arising from future conflicts.