Veterans returning from recent conflicts present with increased rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and veterans from prior service eras continue to seek trauma-based services. Peer support for veterans with PTSD has the potential to resolve ongoing challenges in access and engagement in mental health care. Assessing the value of peer support services requires a thorough understanding of the expected role and the empirical mechanisms of peer support participation in PTSD recovery. To better understand these mechanisms, this study interviewed 29 veteran participants from an established peer support program (PSP), located in the Central Valley of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) in Northern California. A domain analysis of narrative transcripts generated 34 codes through a grounded theory method. Codes were organized into the following thematic categories: the perceived role of the PSP, supportive experiences of the PSP, global gains from the PSP, and limitations to PSP and further mental health engagement. These results were synthesized into a theoretical model that identifies improved functioning and reduced distress as the expected outcomes of PSP-mediated recovery and illustrates the continuum from in-group experiences to these outcomes. Our results suggest that PSP-mediated recovery is defined as acceptance of PTSD into daily life and identity, rather than resolution of symptoms. This conceptualization has implications for peer support provider training, PSP integration into health care settings, and future outcome analyses on the effectiveness of PSPs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ser0000269DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

peer support
24
health care
12
posttraumatic stress
8
stress disorder
8
mental health
8
outcomes psp-mediated
8
psp-mediated recovery
8
peer
6
psp
6
veterans
5

Similar Publications

Article Synopsis
  • The negative symptoms of schizophrenia, like lack of emotion and motivation, are hard to treat and significantly impact daily functioning.
  • This review highlights current research on treatment options for these symptoms, categorizing them into different types and evaluating various assessment scales.
  • Although no treatments are conclusively proven as the best for these symptoms, some off-label and investigational medications show promise, including cariprazine and memantine, and further research is needed to explore new therapeutic possibilities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, and U.S. female Veterans have higher rates of CVD compared to civilian women.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Creating Futures (CF) is an independent, collaborative taskforce supported by in-kind commitments from organisations and practitioners. This paper summarises CF 2023 themes and provides an overview of 20 years of CF activities. It highlights challenges and opportunities to integrate global mental health partnerships and regional mental health projects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To describe the structure and development of a new international, chiropractic, practice-based research network (PBRN), the Chiropractic International Research Collaborative (CIRCuit), as well as the demographic, practice, and clinical management characteristics of its clinician participants. An electronic survey was used to collect information on their demographics, practice, and clinical management characteristics from clinicians from 17 October through 28 November 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to report the results.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Currently, great debate exists over the proposed superiority of some resistance exercises to induce muscular adaptations. For example, some argue that unilateral exercise (meaning one limb at a time) is superior to bilateral exercises (meaning both limbs). Of note, an evidence-based answer to this question is yet to be determined, particularly regarding muscle hypertrophy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!