Prospectus: Coping With PTSD: Effects of PTSD on Law Enforcement and Available Treatments Specific to the Law Enforcement Community
Problem Statement
Over the years, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been a mental disorder that has raised a lot of debate about how to approach it and go about it in the health sector. Despite various reasons why many people, especially law enforcement agents, have PTSD, it is still not quite understandable on the treatment methods regarding PTSD. Healthcare providers have tried coming up with therapies like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which is one of the most effective therapy treatments used on people with PTSD. However, it is still not enough (Collazo, 2020). People working in Law enforcement are at a higher risk of developing PTSD because of their job description. It is easy for law enforcers to experience traumatic events while on the job since their job requires them to manage and control traumatic situations, hence the high risk of PTSD among people working in law enforcement areas. While one can easily say that PTSD has various treatment procedures, CBT being the most effective of them all, some therapy procedures are just not effective, especially on retired law enforcement workers (Collazo, 2020).
PTSD is incredibly hard to handle, especially in retired law enforcement individuals. CBT treatment is not effective for old individuals who have PTSD. PTSD treatments do not seem to be efficient for old individuals, mostly retired law enforcement workers, because telling them to relive their traumatic experiences while in the task force as a way of therapy is more detrimental to their health than beneficial (Owens et al., 2005). Therefore, more research should be done on treatment options for old individuals, mostly retired law enforcement workers, since older people also have a right to live peaceful lives without fighting with PTSD problems at the old age. While there are numerous treatment procedures for PTSD, no research has been done on the treatment procedures for extra sensitive individuals such as elderly veterans. More research should be done on the most effective treatment options for elderly veterans who have PTSD. These treatment options should not include antidepressant drugs like benzodiazepines that have the risk of drug addiction.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this qualitative research design is to establish the various effective treatment options that can safely be used on veterans who have PTSD. The targeted audience for the research is the elderly population, especially those who have a history of working in various law enforcement areas. Qualitative research designs are formulated to have a broader understanding of multiple phenomena (Maxwell, 2012). The qualitative research design also provides an in-depth explanation and how various research questions can be answered (Maxwell, 2012). In this case, qualitative research design can be used to study and research further on non- addictive drug with minimal side effects that can be used on elderly persons. This research design also allows one to understand the different perspectives on ‘life with PTSD’ from other elderly veterans. From their experience, researchers will understand how various PTSD treatment options negatively impact the health of the elderly.
Research Question (RQ)
RQ1: What is the average perspective on PTSD therapy for older people, and how can it be improved to make it more suitable, effective, and minimal side effects for the elderly?
References
Collazo, J. (2020). Adapting Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Treat Complex Trauma in Police Officers. Clinical Social Work Journal.
Nichter, B., Norman, S., Haller, M., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2019). The psychological burden of PTSD, depression, and comorbidity in the US veteran population: Suicidality, functioning, and service utilization. Journal of affective disorders.
Owens, G. P., Baker, D. G., Kasckow, J., Ciesla, J. A., & Mohamed, S. (2005). Review of assessment and treatment of PTSD among elderly American armed forces veterans. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: A Journal of the psychiatry of late-life and allied sciences, 20(12).
Maxwell, J. A. (2012). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (Vol. 41). Sage publications.