Stigma and the military: evaluation of a PTSD psychoeducational program.
Trauma risk management (TRiM) is an intensive posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) psychoeducational management strategy based on peer-group risk assessment developed by the UK Royal Navy (RN). TRiM seeks to modify attitudes about PTSD, stress, and help-seeking and trains military personnel to identify at-risk individuals and refer them for early intervention. This quasiexperimental study found that TRiM training significantly improved attitudes about PTSD, stress, and help-seeking from TRiM-trained personnel. There was a nonsignificant effect on attitudes to seeking help from normal military support networks and on general health. Within both the military and civilian populations, stigma is a serious issue preventing help-seeking and reducing quality of life. The results suggest that TRiM is a promising antistigma program within organizational settings.
Gould
Matthew
M
Department of Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK.
Greenberg
Neil
N
Hetherton
Jacquie
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010379:Peer Group; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management; D006113:United Kingdom