Military Couples and Posttraumatic Stress: Interpersonally Based Behaviors and Cognitions as Mechanisms of Individual and Couple Distress

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Risk and Resilience in Military and Veteran Families book series (RRMV)

Abstract

Substantial research indicates that spouses and romantic partners of veterans who have been diagnosed with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience significant amounts of both psychological and relationship distress. Although research has made great strides in understanding the mechanisms of trauma-related distress in veterans, knowledge about the mechanisms of distress experienced by veterans’ spouses and romantic partners is more limited. Given the high numbers of troops returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past decade with symptoms of PTSD and the important role spouses/partners play in supporting traumatized troops, more information about the mechanisms of distress in spouses/partners is needed to enhance treatments intended to aid both members of the couple. This chapter provides an updated overview of research studies concerning mechanisms of distress in spouses and partners of veterans traumatized by combat, specifically as they relate to a cognitive-behavioral interpersonal framework. In addition, we provide recommendations for future areas of research based on current findings and gaps in the literature.

Keywords

PTSD Intimate relationships Military personnel Stress disorders 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychologyGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxUSA

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