Returning Wars? Wounded, Injured, and Ill: A Reference Handbook

Thousands of American service members are returning from their tours of duty with physical and/or psychological disabilities. Many―if not most―of these service members will need at least some assistance to adapt to their disabilities and learn how to reintegrate back into civilian life. Also impacted will be the spouse, friends, employers, family members, counselors, and community members of each veteran with a disability. The veterans may not be aware of the ways in which their disabilities are impacting them, nor knowledgeable about the resources available to help them cope. In addition, many such individuals feel isolated and reluctant to acknowledge their difficulties or ask for assistance.

The volume compiles and summarizes the information disabled veterans and those with whom they interact will be interested in knowing and using. It describes how disabilities can impact an individual physically, psychologically, and spiritually. It also provides a context of these disabilities to reassure the readers that they are not alone in the thoughts, feelings, and pain, and that others have experienced the same problems and found solutions. The work provides guidance on different forms of treatment that may help the veteran and includes a list of contact information for local VA centers, peer-to-peer counseling services, and other programs, services, and individuals available (frequently for free) for veterans and their families. Brief biographies of disabled veterans and case studies of the ways they reintegrated back into civilian society provide support and perspective. In addition to aiding veterans, the book will serve as a useful reference source for librarians and other information providers.

Nathan D. Ainspan is an industrial psychologist in the Washington, DC area. He has researched, written, and worked on improving the situation of employment for people with disabilities and returning service members and veterans with disabilities for number of years. He worked for the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC and has conducted research, written, and spoken in these areas. His research interests have focused on understanding the symptoms and treatment of PTSD, employment as a form of positive psychology, and the impact and effect of disabilities on the friends, family members, and supporters of veterans and returning service members with disabilities and injuries.

Walter E. Penk is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Texas A&M College of Medicine and Consultant, Central Texas VA Health Care System. He was Chief of Psychology at the Edith Nourse Rogers VA Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts and Associate Director of the VISN 1 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and Director of Psychology for the Department of Mental Health in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.