posted on July 28, 2010 13:26
Towards Integrated Treatments for PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
RQ Vol. 21(2) (PDF), by Suzy Gulliver,PhD; Laurie Steffen, BA
This month’s feature: Care for Veterans with PTSD in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
In the News: Disability Claims Process Eased for Veterans with PTSD
As of July 13, 2010, there are New VA Regulations on PTSD Claims (PDF) for Veterans of all eras. For more information see or read the VA press release. Questions about care and benefits should be directed to your local VA Medical Center, or:
Understanding VA
VA is made up of three branches: Veterans Health (VHA), Veterans Benefits (VBA), and Cemeteries. VHA handles health benefits and VBA handles a wide range of other benefits such as insurance, educational benefits, housing benefits, and disability compensation.
VHA provides free healthcare for 5 years following a Veteran’s return from deployment to a war zone, for conditions related to their service.* After that, Veterans can continue to get health care at VA - coverage often involves a co-pay based on need. Veterans must enroll in VA to obtain care. Read more on VA Health Care Benefits.
A separate application is used in VBA for benefits other than healthcare. Veterans can also file a claim with VBA to get compensation for disabilities they acquire due to their honorable service. This process is called "compensation and pension" and involves some paperwork and time. Often an advocate will assist with this process. These advocates can be found through the VA, at your State office of Veterans affairs, or from many Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). When a Veteran goes through the claims process, he or she will be given a rating of "service connected disability." This rating will impact the amount of compensation and care received. Learn more about Help for Veterans with PTSD
*See VA Health Benefits for complete details.
Getting Care for PTSD in VA
Our Nation’s Veterans deserve the best care. Effective PTSD treatments now exist, and each VA Medical Center has specialists who can treat PTSD. Find a VA facility and/or a VA PTSD Treatment program near you. In addition to Medical Centers, Vet Centers across the country offer readjustment counseling for Veterans and their families. VA also has many Community Based Outpatient Clinics as well as Mental Health clinics located away from VA Medical Center campuses. An increasing number of women have deployed to war and VA provides services targeted to female Veteran’s mental health following trauma.
Did you know that the VA provides at least one of two evidence based treatments for PTSD at all VA Medical Centers? Learn more about Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy.
VA Care in Rural Areas
VA is working to provide improved access to care in rural areas. Half of US Veterans live outside of urban areas. Telehealth and other technologies are being used; such as telephone care, Internet interventions and treatment support, and videotelehealth. My HealtheVet is one such resource.
Community Support for Veterans with PTSD
Increasing PTSD awareness and services in the community is important, and VA is involved in many outreach efforts. College personnel, law enforcement officials, employers and coworkers can better understand common reactions following war, PTSD, and how to help: For Employers; For Employees; For College Counselors; For Law Enforcement Officials; Info on Housing Support for Homeless Vets. In addition to VA services, there are other sources of behavioral health care in the community that are targeted to Military and Veterans, such as Give an Hour and SOFAR.
Resources For Providers and Researchers
Many VA resources are available to help clinicians, counselors, researchers, and other professionals in their work involving trauma and PTSD. These are some highlights; much more can be found on the National Center for PTSD’s website: www.ptsd.va.gov/professional.
- PTSD 101: Earn CE’s for over a dozen courses on topics focusing on issues related to war zone stress/PTSD, such as Integrated Smoking Cessation and PTSD Treatment.
- PTSD Clinical Training Program: This on-site week long program is held at the Dissemination and Training Division of the National Center for PTSD in Menlo Park, CA. The curriculum offers lectures, seminars, and clinical observation.
- CTU – Online: This electronic publication provides summaries of clinically relevant research in the trauma field in brief format with links to the full article, when available. Content on treatment and assessment is emphasized. Comes to your email every 2 months. Subscribe now.
- PTSD Research Quarterly: Each RQ contains a review article written by guest experts on a specific topic related to PTSD. The article has a selective bibliography with abstracts and a supplementary list of annotated citations.Subscribe now.
- The PILOTS database: The world’s largest collection of citations on trauma and PTSD is available free to help focus your research.
- VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines
- The Iraq War Clinician Guidewas developed for clinicians to address the unique needs of Veterans of the current wars.
- VA Office of Mental Health Services www.mentalhealth.va.gov: Includes Counseling Veteran Students – VA training for college faculty and staff who deal with returning service member students, as well as information on work therapy, homelessness, the Veterans Justice Outreach program, substance abuse, and more.
- VA Mental Illness Research, Education & Clinical Centers (MIRECCs): Provide products and resources as well as a bibliotherapy guide.
VA Providers: PTSD intranet site on VA network
Find resources on PTSD specifically for VA providers. (Search for “PTSD” on the VA network.)
- Learn how to administer the CAPS
- Find professional communities of practice to help you with your work (Traumatic Stress and Readjustment, MST, CPT and PE Therapy, PTSD Mentoring Program, Emergency Response)
- Download assessment instruments
- and more!