Combat-Related Stress Reactions Among U.S. Veterans of Wartime Service

Although many military personnel and veterans demonstrate resilience and growth following high-stress military operations, a sizeable proportion experience a range of mental health and adjustment difficulties during their service and post-deployment. This chapter reviews the current literature on the most common mental health difficulties experienced by present-day U.S. military and veteran populations exposed to combat, with an emphasis on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide. Attention is given to factors related to the development and maintenance of these difficulties and evidence-based practices for the treatment of these disorders. We conclude with a brief discussion of barriers to treatment, innovative strategies to address those barriers, and recommendations to improve treatment and readjustment for those who have served in high-stress military operations.