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Time-limited psychotherapy conducted 2 to 9 months after demobilization was evaluated with Persian Gulf Theater veterans of Operation Desert Storm (ODS). Thirty five treatment-seeking veterans were contrasted with 20 non-treatment-seeking ODS Persian Gulf veterans in a repeated measures design at pretest, posttest, and 6-week followup assessments. In addition, psychotherapy participants at followup were contrasted with 80 non-treatment-seeking ODS Persian Gulf veterans from the same military units who were assessed one time at a comparable time point. Time-limited psychotherapy was associated with sustained improved psychosocial functioning and reduced levels of psychiatric and stress-related symptomatology.

This article provides an overview of and initial empirical findings from a preventive clinical/educational model for psychosocial assessment and intervention with the families of Operation Desert Storm (ODS) veterans. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained (a) 2–6 months after demobilization from ODS from veteran/veteran or veteran/civilian spouse couples who received conjoint time-limited therapy and veterans from the same Reserve and National Guard Units who received one-to-one time-limited therapy and (b) 12–15 months after demobilization from veterans deployed during ODS with the same military units. Principal findings are as follows: (1) the trauma and strain of war-zone military service, family separation, and subsequent family and community readjustment take a toll on a significant minority of ODS veterans and their families that is directly related to the stress symptomatology experienced by the veteran; and (2) with timely psychosocial intervention—based on life-span developmental and self-psychology, family systems theory, and a communitarian social integration model—veterans and families in distress are able to substantially resolve symptoms of psychosocial malfunctioning and even begin to accrue personal and systemic benefits from their ODS stressor experiences.