Course Summary

Current and former members of the United States military may not always volunteer information about their military service. Veterans may not be willing to share their experiences, especially when such awareness causes them mental anguish. Military deployment may have a profound effect on men and women that have served in regions of conflict and war. Understanding mental illness in the veteran population and how to screen, diagnose and treat mental illness is important for healthcare professionals committed to the health and welfare of veterans and their families.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I.       Introduction
• II.       Mental Health Disorders in Veterans
  • 1.        Screening for Military Service
• III.       Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans
  • 1.        DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD
  • 2.        PTSD Screening in Primary Care
• IV.       Symptom-Driven Diagnostic Screening for Primary Care
  • 1.        Trauma-Driven Screening
  • 2.        Self-Report Screening Instruments
• V.       Depression in Veterans
  • 1.        Patient Health Questionnaire-2
  • 2.        Patient Health Questionnaire-9
  • 3.        Screening Recommendations for PHQ-2 and PHQ-9
• VI.       Grieving in the Veteran Population
  • 1.        Traumatic Grief
  • 2.        Complications of Bereavement
• VII.      Risk of Veteran Suicide
  • 1.        Suicidal Ideation
  • 2.        Suicide Risk Factors
• VIII.     Suicide Risk Prevention
• IX.      Case Study: PTSD in an Afghanistan Veteran
• X.      VA Study: Opioid Safety and Veteran’s Suicide
• XI.      Summary