Are we winning the war against posttraumatic stress disorder?

Science. 2012 May 18;336(6083):872-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1222069.

Abstract

The most methodologically rigorous epidemiological study on American military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan found that 4.3% of troops developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among deployed combatants, 7.6% developed PTSD, whereas 1.4% of deployed noncombatants did so. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a program ensuring that all veterans with PTSD will receive evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the Army has developed Battlemind postdeployment early interventions that reduce risk for the disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Afghan Campaign 2001-*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Humans
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011*
  • Military Personnel* / psychology
  • Military Personnel* / statistics & numerical data
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / epidemiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / prevention & control
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / therapy
  • United States
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Veterans / psychology
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data