Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Starred review from June 1, 2011

Roberts (applied linguistics, Univ. of Northern Iowa) updates her 2003 original book on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Admitting her nonclinical background, she explains how her marriage to a Vietnam veteran, interest in human behavior, and living and working in different cultures led to further investigating PTSD. Strongly directed at lay readers interested in or personally experiencing the disorder and its accompanying stress, Roberts explains the effects of PTSD on individuals and their families, including the trauma caused by noncombat violence and natural disasters. She nicely covers PTSD causes, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of the disorder, including counseling, medication, and alternative therapy. She also presents typical challenges faced by PTSD individuals and their families and provides helpful recommendations on how best to develop and implement a healthy, long-term approach to handling them. New here is information regarding Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, new policies and treatments used with military veterans, and information on female war vets, who represent a new demographic for combat PTSD. VERDICT Roberts includes helpful additional resources for PTSD survivors and family members and a handy guide to recommended reading, as well as key films that dramatically convey the reality of PTSD. Primarily focused on combat, this will be of great value to veterans or those in the armed services who may be experiencing PTSD and their family and friends.--Dale Farris, Groves, TX

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.