Editorial: Treat problems early

[unhappycamper]

Editorial: Treat problems early

A new study puts hard data behind the many anecdotal reports that mental health problems among combat troops often take months to appear.

The study involved 80,000 active-duty and reserve component soldiers who had deployed to Iraq. All were screened for mental health issues immediately upon their return home, and again three to six months later.

The results are telling: The percentage of troops suffering problems in every category — interpersonal conflict, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and overall mental health — rose markedly over time.

For example, 11.8 percent of active-duty troops had PTSD issues upon returning from Iraq. Several months later, that figure was up to 16.7 percent. Reservists were even more likely to have delayed reactions; 12.7 percent of reservists had PTSD issues right after deployment, but a few months later, that had almost doubled, to 24.5 percent.

Similar patterns were seen in every other area in the study.

The Army’s broad-based move to do a second screening clearly shows that a single screening is not enough. Yet none of the other services is yet following this example.



Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_editorial_ptsdtests_071126/