2012 Spring research Proposal

1. Jacob Morgan
10th Honors World Lit
Lester and Hamilton
Spring 2012
Research Paper Topic
The topic I have chosen is In What ways are they trying to treat PTSD, and is it Possible
to cure. I hope to find Methods to treat PTSD, how they help, and if it is possible to cure one of
PTSD.
What I Know About This Topic At This Point and Why I Am Interested
I do not know very much about this topic. I do know that the army thinks it is curable,
and that they use technology such as smartphone apps and computer games to help treat it. I have
learned what PTSD is, a mental disorder, how much it costs the army to treat people, and what
veterans with mental disorders do. I know that that many veterans with PTSD are insecure and
are easily startled. This is because they recall their experience in the war anytime something
reminds them of it. I am interested in this topic because I think it is really cool that they are using
technology like smartphones to treat veterans with PTSD. I think it is really neat that they can
get help whenever they need it just by pulling out their smartphone.
What I want to Learn
I wish to learn about all of the different types of treatment for PTSD, and which ones
work. I want to learn exactly what the smartphone apps do to treat PTSD. For example, I would
like to download PTSD coach (An app that treats PTSD,) and try and figure out how this might
help someone with PTSD. Another thing I would like to learn is if PTSD is curable, and if it is
not curable, at what point does the army consider someone cured, or ready to go back to war. For

2. example, they send soldiers back to Afghanistan all the time who have been diagnosed with
PTSD and “cured.” Yet, some go crazy while they are over there and do things like kill innocent
people and fellow soldiers.
Initial List of Questions I Have About My Topic
1. Do portable apps to treat PTSD make veterans more likely to use them?
2. Why are other countries downloading apps developed by our government to treat PTSD?
3. What Causes the Insecurity in Veterans With PTSD?
4. Why do some veterans’ Families believe that they are faking their PTSD for money?
5. Why are white males in the army more likely to commit suicide?
6. Why do patients with Mental Disorders have an increased likeness to commit suicide?
7. If the government wants businesses to hire veterans, why does the government not just hire
them?
8. Why not hire a temp for deployed veterans instead of firing them?
9. Why does the NDI Classify a suicide by a disease book?
10. Why can some SUD treatment take only seven days, while some can take ninety days?
My Primary Research Questions
1.What treatments are available for veterans with PTSD, and do any of them possibly “cure”
veterans with PTSD?
2. How do smartphone apps treat people with PTSD?
3. When does the army consider someone to be cured of PTSD?
Research Plans
I feel as though news articles are the best way to get information about this topic.
Another way I am considering to get information is to download the apps used to treat PTSD and

3. using them. I plan on using Scoop.it and Netvibes to organize my research and sharing it with
others. I will be using easybib to do the citations for this project
Content Creation Tools
I will be using Prezi and Possibly movie maker to make my project.
Final Learning Project
I will be doing a Digital text for this project. I think that this way would convey my
information best because it can make heavy use of emphasis on words. It will also allow me to
have a visible flow between ideas. I plan on using multiple mindmaps to keep track and manage
my information on this topic.
Preliminary Bibliography
Ilgen, Mark A., Kenneth R. Conner, Kathryn M. Roeder, Frederic C.
Blow, Karen Austin, and Marcia Valenstein. "Patterns of Treatment
Utilization Before Suicide Among Male Veterans With Substance Use
Disorders." American Journal of Public Health 102 (2012): S88-92.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=71927427&site=ehost-live>.
Jones, Tim, and Jason Grotto. "Costs Soar for Vets' PTSD." Chicago Tribune
(Chicago, IL). 13 Apr 2010: 4. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 Mar 2012.
Kaplan, Mark S., Bentson H. Mcfarland, Nathalie Huguet, and Marcia

4. Valenstein. "Suicide Risk and Precipitating Circumstances Among Young,
Middle-Aged, and Older Male Veterans." American Journal of Public Health 102
(2012): S131-137. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://
proxygsu-sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=71929623&site=ehost-live>.
Pigeon, Wilfred R., Peter C. Britton, Mark A. Ilgen, Ben Chapman, and
Kenneth R. Conner. "Sleep Disturbance Preceding Suicide Among
Veterans." American Journal of Public Health 102 (2012): S93-97.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://proxygsu-
sche.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=71930813&site=ehost-live>.
Press, Pauline Jelinek, Associated. "Veterans Use Smartphone Apps to
Fight PTSD." USA Today. Gannett, 26 July 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http:/
/www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2011-07-26-military-smartphone-app-
ptsd_n.htm>.
WATSON, JULIE. "Army: PTSD Treatable; Some Diagnosed Return to War."
Editorial. The Seattles Times 23 Mar. 2012. The Seattle Times. The Seattle
Times, 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
html/nationworld/2017820113_apusafghanistansuspectptsd.html>.