Specialists commune to discuss the issue of rising PTSD rates

Jan. 12, 2010 - PRLog -- A study carried out by the American Journal for Public Health has found that soldiers serving multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq are over three times at risk of screening positive for acute depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than soldiers who have not previously been deployed.

Although the findings may in many ways seem predictable, they serve to highlight the clear and present toll that the current conflicts are taking on soldiers in theatre.

The Office of the US Army Surgeon General has listed mental health problems in 11.9 percent of those with one deployment, 18.5 percent with two, and 27.2 percent with three to four. Those having undertaken multiple tours, a total of almost 50 percent of troops, also had double the risk of chronic pain and were more than 90 percent more likely to score below the average of the general population on physical functioning.

The same report stated that the combined conflicts have accounted for the highest ratio of wounded to killed of any prior U.S. military operation at 7:1. At the end of last year, 30,182 troops were listed as wounded, with 4,287 dead, statistics that present further suggestion as to why cases of psychological stress increase dramatically.

Amy Fairweather, director of the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, expressed concern about the increase in seriousness of PTSD for those serving in an environment where constant hidden dangers and severe physical conditions naturally provoke distress. However, she also pointed to feelings of guilt in the knowledge of suffering such inner turmoil when fellow soldiers are sharing the same experiences, which may prevent some from speaking out about their state of mind.

Paul Fulcomer, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency believes that many worry about a diagnosis of the disorder harming their chances of pursuing other careers, such as in the police or fire fighting service.

"Many young vets won't come in," he said. "They're really suffering and they're not getting any help."

Another related factor stems from pain and mild injury incurred in the field, of which those of an orthopedic nature are most common. The average weight of a soldier’s kit is about 60lbs, and the frequent marches over difficult terrain can lead to long-term muscle and bone damage, which in turn can lead to a gradual decrease in mental wellbeing.

Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense is pressuring the Department of Defence to arrange a casualty plan.

“Such a plan should include hiring more mental health professionals immediately to perform medical exams on all troops before and after deployment to spot medical problems early, when treatment is most effective and least expensive.”

Front line feedback, assessment and briefings on these concerns will be on the agenda at Defence IQ’s 3rd Annual Battlefield Healthcare event, being held from March 23 - 25 at the Maritim Hotel in Munich, Germany. For information and booking forms, please visit www.battlefieldhealthcare.eu, email defenceiq@iqpc.com or call 0800 652 2363.

# # #

IQPC leverages a global research base of best practices to produce an unrivaled portfolio of problem-solving conferences. Each year we offer approximately 2,000 worldwide conferences, seminars, and related learning programs.