title: Can we facilitate posttraumatic growth in combat veterans?
abstract: The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, currently under development for the U.S. Army, will include a component designed to increase the possibilities for posttraumatic growth in the aftermath of combat. In this article, we briefly review studies that provide evidence for this phenomenon in combat veterans, and we suggest elements that such a program might include to facilitate posttraumatic growth. We urge the Army to conduct randomized controlled trials testing the efficacy of the program prior to its implementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, 28223, USA. rtedesch@uncc.edu
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McNally
mesh_terms: D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008890:Military Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare