Table 1
Participant Demographic Information.
| CHARACTERISTICS | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Gender identity | ||
| Female | 3 | 10.0 |
| Male | 26 | 90.0 |
| Ethnicity/US racial categories | ||
| African ancestry/Black | 5 | 16.6 |
| European/White | 13 | 43.3 |
| Latine/Latinx/Hispanic | 7 | 26.6 |
| Asian ancestry | 2 | 6.6 |
| Other/Unknown | 2 | 6.6 |
| US era of military service | ||
| (OEF/OIF)a | 17 | 56.6 |
| Vietnam | 11 | 36.6 |
| Other | 1 | 6.6 |
| Rurality | ||
| Rural | 16 | 53.3 |
| Agricultural-semi-urban | 13 | 46.6 |
[i] Note. N = 29. Participants were on average 48.3 years old (SD = 16.0; range = 25–75).
aOperation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Table 2
Ways Study Participants Diagnosed with PTSD Experience Group Peer Support in Two Community-Based Clinics in Rural California.
| THEMATIC FINDINGS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 1. Leveraging shared experience | |
| 1.1 Unlearning conditioned reactivity | Desire to unlearn unhelpful patterns\behaviors that were “programmed” during training. |
| 1.2 Impact of structural rigidity | Understanding the impact of a structured code of conduct and expectations: punctuality, following orders, suppressing emotions, respecting the chain of command, and focus on mission. |
| 1.3 Comradery as healing | Refers to an appreciation for the shared understanding of shared work culture: language, discipline, and sacrifice. The deep connection developed between those who served, imparting a sense of safety and belonging during peer group sessions. |
| 2. Facilitates connections | |
| 2.1 Synergy | Ways peer support exists in tandem with psychological and psychiatric care and provides linkages to other social and/or recreational programs that reduce social isolation. |
| 2.2 Transformative | Describes how peer group sessions can be life changing, cathartic, and how other care revolved around attendance at group. |
| 2.3 Collaboration for continuity of care | How VA providers worked together to address gaps to provide comprehensive PTSD care. |
| 3. Distinct from clinical approaches | |
| 3.1 Openness and freedom | Group peer support experiences described as free and open compared to clinical approaches. |
| 3.2 Perspectives on EBT experience | During peer support group sessions veterans reported appreciating the lack of diagnostic labels. Participants reported how flexibility, as opposed to more structured approaches, can improve patient-provider relationships. |
| 3.3 Guidance versus holistic support | Group peer support was viewed as supportive and therapy more as clinical/medical guidance. |
[i] Note. PTSD = Posttraumatic stress disorder; VA = Veterans Affairs; EBT = evidenced-based therapy.
Figure 1
Mechanisms of Enhanced PTSD Care and VHA Connections Reported by GPS Veteran Participants.