A recent qualitative study by Mansfield and colleagues (2014) examined partner perspectives on PTSD. Participants were emailed a survey and had the option of completing a free-text section asking them to share any experiences related to their partner’s PTSD. Through thematic analysis, the authors found that partners described their significant other as having poor communication, being emotionally distant, and easily angered. Additionally, despite many partners mentioning the importance of mental health services, very few of their significant others were receiving PTSD treatment. The authors discuss the implications of their findings.
See abstract below:
The intimate partners of veterans living with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often have few opportunities to articulate in their own words how the disorder affects them and their families. Besides relationship challenges and stress associated with assuming a caregiver role, partners may endure their own psychological distress. These occurrences may be overlooked when treating PTSD, as the focus is usually on the veteran and from the veteran’s perspective. Engaging significant others and understanding their perspective is paramount to both the veteran’s recovery and the well-being of the couple. We mailed surveys to partners of veterans with PTSD as part of a larger study that assessed PTSD-related knowledge, beliefs, treatment involvement, and quality of life. At the end of the survey was an optional free-text section inviting partners to share any other information related to their circumstances. Of all survey respondents, over half (n