1 in 6 Iraq vets have PTSD

VFW Magazine, Sept, 2004 by Tim Dyhouse

The results of a Pentagon study released in July show that one in six combat veterans of the Iraq War shows signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interviews with those most at risk revealed that only 23% to 40% sought professional help, most typically because they feared it would hurt their military careers if they did.

The study, published in the July 1 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, tracked three Army units and one Marine Corps unit. The anonymous subjects were studied either before their deployment to Iraq or three to four months after they returned from combat duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.

PTSD was significantly higher after duty in Iraq (15.6% to 17.1%) than after duty in Afghanistan (11.2%) or before deployment to Iraq (9.3%). The rate of PTSD in Vietnam vets, by comparison, is about 15%.

To help GIs get the assistance they need to deal with emotional disorders caused by combat, authors of the study concluded that the military should focus on outreach, education and changes in health care delivery. This would include improving mental health services in primary care clinics and providing confidential counseling. The Army offers six confidential counseling sessions through its Army One Source program at www.armyonesource.com.