How Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is Changing Disability Measurement Among Returning Veterans: What Can We Do?

• Activity Number: 209
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 3, 2009 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Committee on Statistics and Disability
• Author(s): Michele Connolly and Ronald Manderscheid and Cille Kennedy and Paula Schnurr
• Companies: SRA International and Sweetgrass Consulting, LLC and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder ; disability measurement ; health policy ; veterans ; mental impairments ; cognitive impairments

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major concern for veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Rand Corporation study found that nearly 20% of returning service members reported PTSD symptoms yet about half had received treatment. Most returning veterans are young, so PTSD can affect work, earnings and quality of life for many years. PTSD is hard to define and measure, symptoms can occur many years later and co-morbidity with other conditions can be a complication. A major policy debate is how best to identify and provide compensation for veterans with PTSD. The purpose of the Panel is better address these issues by improving statistics and measurement. Panel members will describe the nature and scope of PTSD, review statistical and definitional issues and discuss how past research on measurement of mental illness and cognitive impairments may provide guidance.