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By David Morgan Thu Apr 17, 2:15 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 300,000 U.S. troops returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or
depression, but about half receive no care, an independent study said
on Thursday.
The study by the RAND Corp. also estimated that another 320,000
troops have sustained a possible traumatic brain injury during
deployment. But researchers could not say how many of those cases
were serious or required treatment.
Billed as the first large-scale nongovernmental survey of its kind,
the study found that stress disorder and depression afflict 18.5
percent of the more than 1.5 million U.S. forces who have deployed to
the two war zones.
The numbers are roughly in line with previous studies. A February
assessment by the U.S. Army that showed 17.9 percent of U.S. troops
in Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from acute stress, depression or
anxiety in 2007, down from 19.1 percent in 2006.
But the 500-page RAND study, based in part on interviews with more
than 1,900 soldiers, sailors and Marines, also said that only half of
troops suffering debilities receive care. And in half of those cases,
the care is only minimally adequate.
"There is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have
served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Terri Tanielian, a
RAND researcher who helped head the study.
"Unless they receive appropriate and effective care for these mental
health conditions, there will be long-term consequences for them and
for the nation."
FEAR OF STIGMA
The study said many service members do not seek treatment because
they fear the stigma associated with psychological problems could
harm their careers.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime
trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt.
Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep
difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an
exaggerated startle response.
RAND recommended that the Pentagon create a way for service members
to receive mental health service confidentially and monitor the
quality of care.
Army Col. Loree Sutton, director of the U.S. Defense Center of
Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury,
welcomed the study.
She was concerned at the finding that only about half of those who
sought help received "minimally adequate" treatment and said it would
spur the military to try harder to recruit more mental health
specialists.
The Army wants to hire 275 civilian mental health professionals but a
tight labor market and difficulties getting civilians into war zones
has slowed the effort, officials say.
RAND, a private research organization, estimated that stress and
depression among returning soldiers cost $6.2 billion in the two
years following deployment, mainly due to lost productivity, medical
costs and a higher risk of suicide. (Additional reporting by Andrew
Gray; Editing by Alan Elsner and Will Dunham)
--
If you want the French Version, here you go:
Quelque 300.000 soldats am
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 300,000 U.S. troops returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or
depression, but about half receive no care, an independent study said
on Thursday.
The study by the RAND Corp. also estimated that another 320,000
troops have sustained a possible traumatic brain injury during
deployment. But researchers could not say how many of those cases
were serious or required treatment.
Billed as the first large-scale nongovernmental survey of its kind,
the study found that stress disorder and depression afflict 18.5
percent of the more than 1.5 million U.S. forces who have deployed to
the two war zones.
The numbers are roughly in line with previous studies. A February
assessment by the U.S. Army that showed 17.9 percent of U.S. troops
in Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from acute stress, depression or
anxiety in 2007, down from 19.1 percent in 2006.
But the 500-page RAND study, based in part on interviews with more
than 1,900 soldiers, sailors and Marines, also said that only half of
troops suffering debilities receive care. And in half of those cases,
the care is only minimally adequate.
"There is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have
served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Terri Tanielian, a
RAND researcher who helped head the study.
"Unless they receive appropriate and effective care for these mental
health conditions, there will be long-term consequences for them and
for the nation."
FEAR OF STIGMA
The study said many service members do not seek treatment because
they fear the stigma associated with psychological problems could
harm their careers.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime
trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt.
Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep
difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an
exaggerated startle response.
RAND recommended that the Pentagon create a way for service members
to receive mental health service confidentially and monitor the
quality of care.
Army Col. Loree Sutton, director of the U.S. Defense Center of
Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury,
welcomed the study.
She was concerned at the finding that only about half of those who
sought help received "minimally adequate" treatment and said it would
spur the military to try harder to recruit more mental health
specialists.
The Army wants to hire 275 civilian mental health professionals but a
tight labor market and difficulties getting civilians into war zones
has slowed the effort, officials say.
RAND, a private research organization, estimated that stress and
depression among returning soldiers cost $6.2 billion in the two
years following deployment, mainly due to lost productivity, medical
costs and a higher risk of suicide. (Additional reporting by Andrew
Gray; Editing by Alan Elsner and Will Dunham)
--
If you want the French Version, here you go:
Quelque 300.000 soldats am
