Mental-Health Study Examines Soldiers Back From Iraq, Afghanistan

Shirley S. Wang, the Wall Street Journal (subscription required)

Excerpt:

The first peek at the mental health of soldiers returning from war in Iraq and Afghanistan shows that many experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, as well as conflicts with loved ones.

More surprisingly, the percentage of soldiers reporting these problems increases 3-6 months after coming home compared to immediately upon return, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Of the 88,235 soldiers studied, one in five on active duty and nearly half of reserves were referred to mental health treatment at one of the two time points. The data come from the U.S. Department of Defense’s routine screening of soldiers for mental health problems immediately post-deployment and a second time several months later using questionnaires and a clinician interview.

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