Background: Reintegration and adjustment to civilian life after military service is crucial for veterans' mental and physical health. However, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions in Australia that specifically address the psychological and cultural factors associated with improved adjustment and mental health in this group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial outcomes of a novel group intervention program, developed to address this gap in supports and services for Australian veterans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with sleep disturbances including insomnia and nightmares. This study compared cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) with CBT-I combined with imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) for nightmares to evaluate if the combined treatment led to greater reductions in trauma-related sleep disturbances in Australian veterans.
Methods: Veterans with diagnosed PTSD, high insomnia symptom severity, and nightmares (N = 31) were randomized to eight group CBT-I sessions or eight group CBT-I + IRT sessions.
Military veterans often have numerous physical and mental health conditions and can face unique challenges to intervention and management. Dietary interventions can improve the outcomes in many health conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the scope of health conditions targeted with dietary interventions and the effectiveness of these interventions for improving health-related outcomes in veterans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Polypharmacy increases the risk of adverse drug events and drug-drug interactions, and contributes to falls, hospital admissions, morbidity and mortality. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder often have psychological and physical comorbidities, increasing the likelihood of general and psychotropic polypharmacy. This study investigates the prevalence of general and psychotropic polypharmacy in inpatient veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, and illustrates potential risks associated with polypharmacy in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF