Only 13% of Civilian Therapist Trearing PTSD Understand Military Culture

Rand: Civilian mental health providers don't 'get' the military
Army Times
By Patricia Kime, Staff writer
November 21, 2014

An Army psychiatrist listens as a soldier explains a problem. A new study of civilian mental health care providers suggests many of them lack the awareness of military culture necessary to help patients in uniform and their families.
(Photo: Army)

A new survey by an influential think tank finds that civilian mental health care specialists sorely lack an understanding of military culture and appropriate treatments for service-related health care needs.

A Rand Corp. survey of 522 psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed clinical social workers found that just 13 percent met the study's criteria for "cultural competency," meaning they understood military mores, language and background, and delivered appropriate care for illnesses unique to the military, such as combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

The results are important, Rand researcher Terri Tanielian said, because insensitivity and unfamiliarity with proven treatments may keep troops and veterans from getting quality psychiatric care.

"These findings suggest that when service members, veterans or family members seek care from providers not affiliated with the Defense Department or Veterans Affairs, they may encounter providers who are not as well prepared to deliver culturally sensitive care," Tanielian and the other authors wrote.
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