Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders: an applied rear-echelon approach.
This paper presents an applied innovative rear-echelon approach for the treatment of recalcitrant soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in the 1982 Lebanon-Israel War. This was used as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. Use was made of a short-term, goal-directed, multidisciplinary treatment approach within the confines of a clear military setting. Reintegration into military and civilian life was an integral part of the program. Results indicated that at discharge, all soldiers showed a markedly improved clinical picture. Follow-up results 2.5 years later indicated that the percentage of regulars who returned to combat units doubled, whereas the reservists showed a slight tendency toward deterioration. Follow-up 6 years later showed the continuation of the same tendency. Ramifications of our findings are extensively discussed.
Margalit
C
C
Israel Defence Forces Medical Corps.
Rabinowitz
S
S
Ezion
T
T
Solomon
Z
Z
Ribak
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare