According to Department of Defense studies, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is present in ten to twenty percent of Iraq war soldiers and the more firefights an Iraq soldier was involved in, the more likely he or she was to have PTSD. In addition, the Department of Defense found that those coming home from Iraq — where there is more combat than in Afghanistan — were twice as likely to seek help than those returning from Afghanistan.
Symptoms of PTSD sometimes do not show up until months or even years after the war or other traumatic event. The Defense Department estimates that ultimately between 15 and 29 percent of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will suffer from PTSD.
Other Afghanistan and Iraq war soldiers battle major depression and generalized anxiety upon returning home. Thirty-five percent of Iraq war veterans sought mental health help within a year of coming home, and twelve percent of those had a diagnosable psychiatric condition. Nineteen percent of the Iraq veterans studied by the Department of Defense met criteria for a “mental health concern.”
The findings above were reported in Cecilia Capuzzi Simon’s story titled Bringing the War Home, in the Psychotherapy Networker, January-February 2007 edition, Vol. 31 – No. 1. Simon quotes Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, who says that PTSD is the “number one issue facing soldiers of Iraq and Afgahanistan.”
Guidelines for Treating Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
The Department of Defense and the Veteran’s Administration have jointly published clinical guidelines for treating PTSD, which recommend PTSD therapies known to be effective. These include: cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) and stress inoculation therapy. Other therapies that may be helpful are psychodynamic psychotherapy, family therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy.
It can be important for combat veterans to seek help early. Trying to manage PTSD symptoms alone can lead to alcohol abuse and other addictions, along with difficulty in relationships and job performance. Children with a parent with untreated PTSD can be very negatively affected.
Further, once symptoms are allowed to persist over a long period of time, they can become chronic and more difficult to treat.
The Veteran’s Administration offers information on treatment. Organizations like Give an Hour can help veteran’s find mental health professionals who can help them. Some of the services are free.
According to the National Association of Social Workers New York State Chapter’s March 2009 newsletter Update, Vol. 33 – No. 5.over 3,600 mental health professionals have registered to participate in the Give an Hour program.
Click here for PTSD statistics and the history of the PTSD diagnosis.
Lisa C. DeLuca - Lisa C. DeLuca is a psychotherapist/social worker who works with families and teens. She also treats panic and anxiety disorders.
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