PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Every war is unique in ways that can’t be anticipated.  Many factors will affect the course of soldiers’ responses to trauma in the war zone over his or her lifetime.  This program will provide an overview of predictors of psychiatric difficulties, including PTSD, from the perspective of predeployment, deployment, and postdeployment variables.  The unique circumstances of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq that make the transition from military service to civilian life will be explored with a focus on readjustment strategies that may be helpful to the veteran and their family.  Blast injuries are being identified as the signature injury of the conflict.  It is often difficult to identify if an individual may have experienced a traumatic brain injury.  Emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial factors following a combat TBI will be discussed. The program will explore gender specific responses to military stressors.

Throughout the seminar there will be an emphasis on normalizing the veterans’ experiences with the hope that clinicians can assist the veterans in becoming stress resilient and decreasing the likelihood of developing chronic mental health problems.  This program is aimed at the advanced skill level.

FACULTY: Jo Rohady, MS, RN, CS, is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn., where she is currently working on the Mood Disorders Team where her duties include diagnostic assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, prescribing of psychiatric medications and staff education.  Ms. Rohady has been instrumental in the development of services for the OIF/OEF veterans and active duty personnel.  She has worked in the OP psychiatric clinic for more than 4 years joining the staff shortly before 9/11/01.  She has worked as a psychiatric nurse for more than 30 years and has had experience in a variety of settings in military hospitals, as well as state, county, federal and private facilities.  Ms. Rohady has presented throughout the Midwest on a wide range of topics including affective disorders and their treatment, psychopharmacology, improving treatment adherence, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, differential diagnosis related to dementia and crisis assessment for the lay person.  She has spoken to a wide range of audiences including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, farm advocates, consumers and their families as well as church groups. 

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:  At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to: 

• discuss interplay of emotional, cognitive and psychosocial factors following combat traumatic brain injury,

• recognize the features of OIF/OEF that may significantly impact quality of life, well being and mental health of returning soldiers and discuss how these features may differ from the experience of the Vietnam veteran,

• identify predeployment, deployment and postdeployment variables that can affect the development of psychiatric disorders, 

• explore gender specific responses to military stressors,

• discuss how to increase stress resilient skills and coping strategies while identifying how war zone skills may be affecting the transition to home.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Psychologists, social workers, mental health therapists, addiction therapists, psychiatric nurses, chaplains, and other mental health professionals. 

AGENDA: 

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Registration, Introduction, Orientation, Plan for the day

8:30 AM - 10:30 AM            

“Psych 101 Vs. War 101”

Psychiatric Casualties

What Do Trauma Survivors Need to Know? 

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM          

Morning Break

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Emotional, Cognitive & Psychosocial Factors Following Combat TBI 

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch (on your own) 

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Predeployment, Deployment & Postdeployment Variables Affecting Psychiatric Disorders

Gender Specific Responses to Wartime Stressors

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Afternoon Break

2:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Stress Resilient Skills

Successful Transitioning to Home

Community Resources 

4:30 PM

Program Closing

CONTINUING EDUCATION: The Southwest Health Professions Education Center, Inc. (SEC) certifies this program for 6 contact hours.  A certificate of attendance will be awarded.  

[ APA ] -- The Southwest Health Professions Education Center, Inc. (SEC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. SEC maintains responsibility for the program.  This program provides 6 CE credits. 

[ ASWB ] -- VA Employee Education System, Provider Number 1040, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), (1-800-225-6880) through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program.  VA Employee Education System maintains responsibility for the program.  Social workers will receive 6 continuing education clock hours in participating in this course.

[ CNE ] -- The Southwest Health Professions Education Center, Inc. (SEC) is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider # CEP 11270.  This program is approved for 6 contact hours. 

REGISTRATION: Registration fee is $95.00. No FEE for Phoenix VA employees.  Fee for full-time VA employees from all other VAs is $15.00 (for the Phoenix program) and $8.00 (for the Prescott program).  Includes continental breakfast, break refreshments(for the Prescott program), and course material. Credit card registrations may be faxed to (928) 776-6137.  Registration is not complete until payment received.  Space is limited.  Please register early.  Refunds, minus a $10 processing fee, will be made until 3 days prior to the program.  No refunds will be made after this date. There will a $15.00 processing fee for any returned checks. Confirmation letters will not be sent. Confirmation letters will not be sent.