deployment psychology
a branch of military psychology devoted to understanding and addressing the unique mental and behavioral health needs of members of the armed forces and their families during and after members’ posting to combat zones and other operational environments. Research in this area focuses on (a) the psychosocial effects on military personnel and their families of combat exposure and of injuries sustained in combat, including disfigurement, amputation, sensory loss, traumatic brain injury, and other severe wounds; (b) barriers to accessing mental health care in the military and the efficacy of existing prevention and intervention programs; (c) the psychology of trauma and promotion of resilience among military personnel and their families; and (d) the process of readjusting to family, community, and general civilian life for returning military personnel. Similarly, clinical services focus on (a) treating posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety
disorder, adjustment disorder, depression, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders common among returning military personnel; (b) mitigating the negative effects of these disorders on the families of those affected; (c) mitigating the stress experienced by families while military personnel are deployed; (d) teaching effective coping skills—such as anger management, conflict resolution, and communication techniques—to returning soldiers and their families to better prepare them to handle interpersonal difficulties that may arise; and (e) using stress-inoculation training and other strategies during deployment to enhance the psychological well-being of soldiers and thus prevent the subsequent development of serious problems.