The Role of Literature Review in Nursing Research, Essay Example

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Does It Really Exist?  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2009) gives detailed insight of how the lay person can spot the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Further the first site is very detailed in giving the causes and who are prime target to develop the syndrome. After examining the details of the first referenced site I find the information valid because the site was developed by the National Institute of Mental Health which is a very reputable organization for giving diagnosis and providing mental health information to consumers.  The website contains informative links to other well-developed and informative credible websites about the syndrome.

It is important to note if a site does not list an author then its reliability and credibility cannot be validated. Credential credits, publicity in a scholarly article, writer authenticity through a university or writing company are all factors to consider when determining reliability and validity of an article on a website.

This article was published in NNIH Publication No. TR-08-6388 and there is an email address to contact the author who writes for the Department of Health and Human Resources.

The second website is published by Mental Health America. There are several links to detailed information on PTSD which are linked to other credible sites. There is no author however the Mental Health Association is a well-known public association with a crisis hotline number in Alexandria, Virginia. They are part of the Mental Health Association of America.

One of the links on the site goes to the federal government’s site to Medicare which is a valid and referenced site. This is a valid and reliable site. On the third and final website is Gateway to PTSD. This article appears prima facie to be from a reputable site however it is uncertain of its reliability because there is no author nor is there a listing of the writer’s credentials on the website or link to the writer’s credentials. This could be information from a posting of a blog. What leads me to believe that the information is valid is the website depicted by “.org” which is normally exemplary of a government agency.

Works Cited

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (2009) Retrieved November 24, 2009 from, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-easy-to-read/index.shtml

Factsheet: Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome Retrieved November 24, 2009 from, http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/ptsd

Gateway to PTSD (2009) Retrieved November 24, 2009 from, http://www.ptsdinfo.org/