Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Delays in treatment initiation for posttraumatic stress disorder in the Canadian Armed Forces: A scoping review
Taylor Baillie1, Pauli Gardner1, Heather Church1
1Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Introduction:
Previous research suggests delays in treatment initiation for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are problematic for the military population. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize what is known about the potential factors contributing to delayed treatment initiation for combat-related PTSD for service members and Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Methods:
This scoping review was conducted using the five-stage methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley. Reporting was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. A systematic and comprehensive search of several online databases, including Omni, PsycInfo, PTSDpubs, PubMed, and Web of Science, was conducted for studies published between March 2002 and December 2020.
Results:
The review included a total of 12 publications. Three thematic groupings were identified among the included articles: 1) stigmatization and attitudinal barriers, 2) deployment characteristics, and 3) role of military service component.
Discussion:
This analysis illustrates three key factors that can delay treatment initiation in this population. The most influential factor affecting timing of treatment initiation was the effect of stigmatization and the attitudinal barriers of military personnel. Further research is required to learn how to mitigate these factors and decrease the time between returning from combat and initiating treatment for a combat-related mental health condition, including PTSD.
