Addressing recurrent war trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders in a veteran through combined therapeutic modalities

This case study presents a war veteran grappling with enduring psychological trauma decades after active combat participation in Zimbabwe and a neighbouring country. The client, having witnessed the loss of comrades and experienced intense terror on the battlefield, was plagued by vivid, intrusive memories of combat scenes dominated by gunfire and bloodshed. Clinical interviews and Mental Status Examination revealed debilitating panic attacks, specifically triggered by war-related memories. Standardized assessment tools including the Davidson Trauma Scale and the DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) concluded a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Therapeutic interventions implemented comprised narrative therapy, Jung’s Self-Shadow technique, and cognitive behavioural therapy, aimed at processing traumatic memories, integrating shadow aspects of the self, and restructuring maladaptive cognitions. These modalities collectively contributed to a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and panic attacks, alongside improved emotional regulation and daily functioning by the conclusion of therapy. This outcome highlights the efficacy of a multimodal therapeutic approach in alleviating chronic combat-related trauma and enhancing psychological resilience. Such evidence supports ongoing efforts to refine interventions addressing enduring trauma in veteran populations within psychological practice and research contexts.