Robert Smith Case Study

In the case of Robert Smith, there exist numerous risk factors that serve to explain his diagnosis with PTSD; especially when taking into consideration his childhood history and his military service. The latter remains a challenge when placing it in the context of risk factors resulting from his unwillingness to discuss personal experiences while serving in the armed forces. Important to note, his reluctance to speak of such experiences are symptomatic of a person involved in a significantly stressful or traumatic event (Lynn, Malakataris, Condon, Maxwell, & Cleere, 2012). For this reason, until such time he discusses his military service, a definitive PTSD diagnosis remains premature. However, when reviewing the five principle indicators of

(WHO, 2012, p. 3)
• Social and economic circumstances: The capacity of an individual to develop and flourish is profoundly influenced by their immediate social surroundings – including their opportunity to engage positively with family members, friends or colleagues, and earn a living for themselves and their families – and also by the socio-economic circumstances in which they find themselves. Restricted or lost opportunities to gain an education and income are especially pertinent socio-economic factors. (WHO, 2012, p. 3)
• Environmental factors: The wider sociocultural and geopolitical environment in which people live can also affect an individual’s, household’s or community’s mental health status, including levels of access to primary commodities and services (water, essential health services, the rule of law), exposure to predominating cultural beliefs, attitudes or practices, as well as by social and economic policies formed at the national level. (WHO, 2012, p.

To that end, and similar to issues of physical health, we understand prevention trumps treatment. However, health prevention relies heavily on aggressive techniques, tools, and resources to effectively change behaviors, which have a negative impact on physical health. Fortunately, similar tools exist in the field of mental health; one such tool is the diathesis–stress