Trauma & Gewalt

Davison, Eve H.; Spiro, A. III; Pless Kaiser, Anica

The Reemergence of Trauma in Aging U. S. Military Veterans

Engaging with the Past

, 14. Jahrgang, Heft 4, pp 304-319

DOI 10.21706/tg-14-4-304

Abstract

We describe the evolution of our development and understanding of the reemergence of trauma in aging U. S. military combat veterans. Beginning in 2000, we characterized late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS) as the later-life emergence of stress symptoms related to early-life combat trauma among aging veterans. Validation of the LOSS construct was achieved through focus group research and scale development and validation. In 2010, we began to reconceptualize LOSS as later-adulthood trauma reengagement (LATR) to incorporate perspectives on posttraumatic growth and resilience. This new LATR model suggests that many aging combat veterans intentionally confront and rework their wartime memories to find meaning and build coherence in their life story. This process can lead to positive (e. g., growth) and / or negative outcomes (e. g., increased symptomatology). We developed a group-based intervention to assist veterans in processing combat-related reminiscences and enhancing positive outcomes. Implications of the evolution from LOSS, the outcome, to LATR, the process, are discussed, in the context of understanding and assisting aging survivors of early-life trauma such as warzone deployment.

Zusammenfassung

Das Wiederaufscheinen traumatischer Erfahrungen bei US-amerikanischen Kriegsveteranen im Alter – die Auseinandersetzung mit der ­Vergangenheit
Im Jahr 2000 wurde das Konzept der Late Onset Stress Symp­tomatology (LOSS) als Wiederaufscheinen lange zurückliegender Traumatisierungen aus Kriegseinsätzen im höheren Alter unter älteren US-Kriegsveteranen beschrieben. Fokusgruppen wurden durchgeführt, um das Konzept zu entwickeln, und es wurde ein Fragebogen zur ­Erfassung von LOSS entwickelt und ­validiert. 2010 begann dann die Überarbeitung und Erweiterung des Konzeptes als Later-Adulthood Trauma ­Reengagement (LATR), um auch Resilienz und posttraumatisches Wachstum zu ­integrieren. Das LATR-Modell beschreibt, dass ältere Kriegsveteranen sich bewusst mit ihren Kriegserinnerungen auseinandersetzen und diese nachträglich verarbeiten, um ihrem Lebensnarrativ ­Kohärenz und dem Erlebten Sinn zu geben. Dieser Prozess kann zu positiven (z. B. posttraumatisches Wachstum) und / oder zu negativen Konsequenzen (z. B. Zunahme psychopathologischer Symptome) führen. Im Weiteren wurde eine Gruppenintervention entwickelt, die Kriegsveteranen dabei unterstützen soll, ihre Kriegserinnerungen zu verarbeiten und positive Entwicklungen zu befördern. Die Bedeutung von LOSS als einem Konzept, das Konsequenzen beschreibt, und von LATR als Prozesskonzept und deren Nutzen für die psychosoziale Unterstützung von Menschen mit lange zurückliegenden Traumatisierungen, wie z. B. Kriegs­einsätzen, werden diskutiert.

Keywords
Schlüsselwörter
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