Prior to the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, wars and conflicts have been characterized by such injuries as infectious diseases and catastrophic gunshot wounds. However, the signature injuries sustained by United States military personnel in these most recent conflicts are blast wounds and the psychiatric consequences to combat, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affects an estimated 13 to 20 percent of U.S. service members who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001.

As researchers have developed increasingly more effective interventions aimed at relieving trauma symptoms, trauma therapists have come to understand that the success of these approaches is highly contingent on personal factors. Whether affected by disaster or interpersonal violence, each survivor of psychological trauma has undergone a uniquely personal experience. Recovery from that trauma is also highly variable and deeply dependent upon an individual's distinctive history and cultural context. This volume examines several current clinical approaches to trauma-focused treatment.

Most previous attempts to determine the psychological cost of military deployment have been limited by reliance on convenience samples, lack of pre-deployment data or confidentiality and cross-sectional designs. This study addressed these limitations using a population-based, prospective cohort of U.S. military personnel deployed in support of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The sample consisted of U.S. military service members in all branches including active duty, reserve and national guard who deployed once (n = 3393) or multiple times (n = 4394).

This book provides a critical road map for educators who want to move far beyond the current reliance on the woefully inadequate violence prevention laws, crisis management plans, and school safety policies in place today. The author describes the characteristics of effective programs and the many elements that impact school safety, and then masterfully guides readers through the specific steps needed to design and implement a powerful, comprehensive safe school plan.