Increased Depression Among Iraq Vets

Increased Depression Among Iraq Vets
Associated Press | November 14, 2007

CHICAGO - The euphoria of a Soldier's homecoming from Iraq often gives way to depression, stress and trouble dealing with family members during the first months home, a new Pentagon study finds.

And the adjustment struggle was more profound for National Guard troops and reservists than it was for active-duty soldiers.

About 42 percent of the Guard and reserves, compared to 20 percent of active-duty troops, were identified as needing mental health treatment in two screenings. The first testing was immediately upon return from Iraq and the second six months later.

Problems showed up more often on the second screening. From the time they returned, there was a fourfold increase in interpersonal problems, for example, likely driven by family conflicts as the returning soldiers adjusted to home life.

Almost a third of the more than 88,000 returning troops in the study had signs of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, conflicts in relationships or other problems after six months.

That compared to about 17 percent when the troops first got home, according to the report that appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,156198,00.html?wh=wh