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Stephanie Bowser, PsyD, is a 2022 graduate of the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Seattle.

Dissertation Committee

Mark C. Russell, PhD, Committee Chair

Michael Sakuma, PhD, Committee Member

Jeff Hansen, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

Posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD), Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), Shared Decision-Making (SDM), Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD)

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2022

Abstract

Posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) remains one of the most pervasive health conditions to affect the 2.7 million United States service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Untreated and/or inadequately treated PTSD can further lead to an array of health risks including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, social and occupational impairments, poorer quality of physical health, decreased overall perception of quality of life, and increase the risk of suicide. Considering these risks, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) created the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for the Management of PTSD and Acute Stress Reaction (ASR), highlighting the strongest evidence-based approaches to treatment for clinicians providing care for service members. The CPGs further outlines the importance of providing clients/patients with psychoeducation regarding PTSD and treatment options, offering a client-centered approach through a Shared Decision-Making Model (SDM), while also illustrating known barriers to treatment, and concerns regarding early termination. Successful implementation of the CPGs is expected to enhance assessment of client’s/patient’s needs and assist in determining and providing effective care. The number of veterans suffering with PTSD continues to be an alarming concern, one with life-threatening implications. While this concern is recognized among clinicians, statistics continue to highlight the vast number of those suffering with PTSD and PTSD related conditions, further pressing the need to explore additional ways to improve the efficacy of treatment. The purpose of this study is to explore the post 9/11 military population’s experience in seeking treatment, as reflected by the CPGs recommendations, while further exploring their views regarding ways to improve the efficacy of assessing and treating PTSD. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/, and Ohio Link ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu/.

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Stephanie Bowser, PsyD, 2022

ORCID Scholar ID# 0000-0002-0896-1020

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