According to most estimates, as many as one in five service members are returning from Iraq or Afghanistan with PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The good news is it's treatable. The North Dakota National Guard and Medcenter One want to ensure that returning Veterans are treated by psychologists with the most up-to-date research and training on combat-related PTSD.
Together, both organizations brought in more than 20 clinical psychologists from every major city in North Dakota for a conference this week on Cognitive Processing Therapy. The psychotherapy technique has been gaining research support and is being scientifically validated by the Veterans' Administration and other clinical and academic settings. Geared specifically for combat-related PTSD, this treatment has been shown to be helpful in a vast majority of treatment completers.
"North Dakota is the first state to venture into this area of community-based, evidence-based PTSD mental health training for doctorate-level providers," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general. "We are wholly committed to our Soldiers and Airmen, as well as their families. We strive to provide everything we can to maintain this commitment, and this workshop is the latest method we have employed. We will pave the way for providing this level of care for our Guardsmen, just as we have become one of the top states in the country for maintaining the medical readiness of our Soldiers."
North Dakota ranks in the top 95 percent of medical readiness out of all states and territories, and only three states exceed the state's standard.
"The primary impetus for bringing the training to North Dakota is to broaden the base of treatment options for returning North Dakota Soldiers and Airmen," said Dr. Matt Doppler, a Clinical Psychologist with medcenter One.
"By doing so, we hope to have doctoral-level providers in as many of the large communities as possible. We want to be available, as close to home as possible, to meet the psychological needs of service members as they return from deployments."
Dr. Ann M. Rasmusson facilitated the workshop. She serves as the medical director of the Veteran's Administration-Boston Health Care System PTSD Programs and is a research associate of the Veteran's Administration National Center for PTSD. She began her secondary education at North Dakota State
University, where she earned a bachelor's of science degree in 1979.
"The importance of appropriate mental health and PTSD care for our Soldiers and Airmen cannot be over emphasized," said Col. Craig Lambrecht, North Dakota National Guard State Surgeon. "The North Dakota National Guard leadership is benchmarking the integration of Cognitive Processing Therapy into the community setting. This advanced mental-health training for providers will allow for better outcomes and interventions for our Soldiers and Airmen with PTSD. The therapy does not rely on medications, and it allows our Soldiers to receive state-of-the-art care in their community setting. It is anticipated that many of these Soldiers will be able to return to duty following therapy; it is that effective. Our goal is to take care of our own - doing what battle buddies do best. This is what North Dakotans expect of their leaders and what service members expect of each other."
Beyond this week's conference, the North Dakota National Guard has worked to help Soldiers, Airmen and their families recognize the signs and symptoms of PTSD while also trying to minimize any stigma that may come with seeking help.
"It is very clear that wartime deployment is very stressful, even for the strongest and most resilient," Doppler said. "We want to be ready to meet the needs of our brave men and women as they return to their lives back home and/or prepare to redeploy."
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Since the terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 2,700 Soldiers and more than 1,600 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, more than 200 Soldiers and Airmen from the North Dakota National Guard remain on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and
other locations throughout Southwest Asia. More than 3,000 National Guardsmen remain in North Dakota and are available to provide support for state and national emergencies and homeland defense.
Contacts:
Dan Murphy at 701-333-2007 (office) or 701-426-0190 (cell)
Amy Willson at 701-451-6130 (office) or 701-412-6895 (cell)
For more information online, we recommend you check out: www.ncptsd.va.gov
Together, both organizations brought in more than 20 clinical psychologists from every major city in North Dakota for a conference this week on Cognitive Processing Therapy. The psychotherapy technique has been gaining research support and is being scientifically validated by the Veterans' Administration and other clinical and academic settings. Geared specifically for combat-related PTSD, this treatment has been shown to be helpful in a vast majority of treatment completers.
"North Dakota is the first state to venture into this area of community-based, evidence-based PTSD mental health training for doctorate-level providers," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general. "We are wholly committed to our Soldiers and Airmen, as well as their families. We strive to provide everything we can to maintain this commitment, and this workshop is the latest method we have employed. We will pave the way for providing this level of care for our Guardsmen, just as we have become one of the top states in the country for maintaining the medical readiness of our Soldiers."
North Dakota ranks in the top 95 percent of medical readiness out of all states and territories, and only three states exceed the state's standard.
"The primary impetus for bringing the training to North Dakota is to broaden the base of treatment options for returning North Dakota Soldiers and Airmen," said Dr. Matt Doppler, a Clinical Psychologist with medcenter One.
"By doing so, we hope to have doctoral-level providers in as many of the large communities as possible. We want to be available, as close to home as possible, to meet the psychological needs of service members as they return from deployments."
Dr. Ann M. Rasmusson facilitated the workshop. She serves as the medical director of the Veteran's Administration-Boston Health Care System PTSD Programs and is a research associate of the Veteran's Administration National Center for PTSD. She began her secondary education at North Dakota State
University, where she earned a bachelor's of science degree in 1979.
"The importance of appropriate mental health and PTSD care for our Soldiers and Airmen cannot be over emphasized," said Col. Craig Lambrecht, North Dakota National Guard State Surgeon. "The North Dakota National Guard leadership is benchmarking the integration of Cognitive Processing Therapy into the community setting. This advanced mental-health training for providers will allow for better outcomes and interventions for our Soldiers and Airmen with PTSD. The therapy does not rely on medications, and it allows our Soldiers to receive state-of-the-art care in their community setting. It is anticipated that many of these Soldiers will be able to return to duty following therapy; it is that effective. Our goal is to take care of our own - doing what battle buddies do best. This is what North Dakotans expect of their leaders and what service members expect of each other."
Beyond this week's conference, the North Dakota National Guard has worked to help Soldiers, Airmen and their families recognize the signs and symptoms of PTSD while also trying to minimize any stigma that may come with seeking help.
"It is very clear that wartime deployment is very stressful, even for the strongest and most resilient," Doppler said. "We want to be ready to meet the needs of our brave men and women as they return to their lives back home and/or prepare to redeploy."
–
Since the terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 2,700 Soldiers and more than 1,600 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, more than 200 Soldiers and Airmen from the North Dakota National Guard remain on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and
other locations throughout Southwest Asia. More than 3,000 National Guardsmen remain in North Dakota and are available to provide support for state and national emergencies and homeland defense.
Contacts:
Dan Murphy at 701-333-2007 (office) or 701-426-0190 (cell)
Amy Willson at 701-451-6130 (office) or 701-412-6895 (cell)
For more information online, we recommend you check out: www.ncptsd.va.gov
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