VA research musters Rx for veterans' inner wounds

Health - Area psychologists delve into the mysteries of trauma and how to
help survivors adjust and heal
Friday, November 03, 2006
DEE AE !"#E
$he %regonian
The battlefield is a place where emotional scars are created, not examined.
Bt once home, many soldiers can!t shed the bravado that served them in battle.
"nable to discard their emotional shields, many veterans don!t #et help for their
invisible wonds.
$sycholo#ist %my &a#ner, who is based in 'ancover!s 'eterans %ffairs (edical
)enter, is *eenly aware of that scenario. +he is stdyin# treatment that doesn!t
re,ire the intense personal revelation of traditional therapies. For some veterans,
she proposes, the first steps to emotional health mi#ht be as simple as resmin# a
hobby -- tossin# a football with bddies or tin*erin# nder the hood of a car.
.The idea is to help veterans #et activated and en#a#ed once a#ain,. &a#ner said.
&a#ner is one of three $ortland-area mental-health experts travelin# to +othern
)alifornia this wee*end to attend the lar#est international #atherin# of professionals
and stdents investi#atin# trama. They will be amon# more than /00 experts
presentin# their research on varios forms of trama.
The 0nternational +ociety for Tramatic +tress +tdies conference, which will *ic* off
+atrday mornin# in 1ollywood, draws more than 3,000 people from a ran#e of
#lobal or#ani2ations and professions. +ociety spo*esman (atthew 3esh said, alon#
with the impact of 1rricane 4atrina, .the war in 0ra, is absoltely a stron# sb-
theme at this year!s conference..
Two of the $ortland-area researchers, &a#ner and fellow '% psycholo#ist 0rene
$owch, will present their latest findin#s on post-tramatic stress disorder. The other,
$rofessor 4athryn Bec*er-Blease of &ashin#ton +tate "niversity 'ancover, will
present her wor* on whether psycholo#y researchers, in an effort to better
nderstand behavior, shold in,ire abot sexal abse in the lives of their sb5ects.
0n the three decades since the 'ietnam &ar ended, &a#ner said, society has
learned a #reat deal abot the tramatic effect of war bt *nowled#e of post-
tramatic stress disorder remains limited. The reslt is many people in pain don!t #et
help.
%c*nowled#in# emotional wonds or as*in# for help -- particlarly in the military, a
profession that vales to#hness -- is a str##le, &a#ner said.
3ess is also *nown abot what is needed immediately after trama, &a#ner said.
&a#ner is wor*in# with collea#es at the "niversity of &ashin#ton and 1arborview
(edical )enter in +eattle to stdy .behavioral activation.. 0n the techni,e, a coach
helps a client to resme formerly meanin#fl or si#nificant activities from before the
trama cased a withdrawal from friends, family and activities. They cold inclde
sports, recreation or hobbies.
$owch, based at the '%!s medical center in $ortland, will share her research on
women veterans. (any, she noted, report difficlty formin# healthy, intimate
relationships.
.There is a poplation that very sorely needs treatment, interventions they need to
help them believe that they can find, develop and be in nonabsive relationships,.
she said. Frthermore, little serios research has been condcted on treatment for
domestic violence victims, $owch said.
.The treatments ot there typically focs on #arnerin# commnity spport and
safety,. she said.
&+" 'ancover!s Bec*er-Blease will discss her conclsions abot whether
researchers shold raise the topic of sexal abse in an effort to possibly identify
those who mi#ht harm others.
0n research, .we will as* all abot other difficlt sb5ects,. Bec*er-Blease said. .&e
will as* abot harsh parentin#. Bt we won!t as* abot sexal abse. &e!re not so
comfortable doin# that..
&a#ner, whose presentation is +nday, said she considers it her civic dty to help
identify more treatments for trama srvivors.
.0t!s my way of contribtin# and helpin# those who are servin#..
62006 The 7re#onian