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Posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms in soldiers returning from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
Author(s) -
Lapierre Coady B.,
Schwegler Andria F.,
LaBauve Bill J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20278
Subject(s) - posttraumatic stress , depression (economics) , psychiatry , psychological intervention , mental health , military personnel , depressive symptoms , iraq war , psychology , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , combat stress reaction , military deployment , poison control , medicine , anxiety , medical emergency , pathology , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
The purpose of the present research was to identify rates of posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms in soldiers returning from war. During reintegration training, U.S. Army soldiers, who recently returned from a 12‐month deployment to either Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom, n = 2,275) or Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, n = 1,814), completed study materials. Surveys assessed self‐reported levels of depression, posttraumatic stress, and life satisfaction. Results indicated that approximately 44% of soldiers who volunteered to participate self‐reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, or both. Although assessing symptoms and not disorders, these results suggest a potentially high rate of mental health concerns in soldiers immediately after returning from a combat zone. Further research should examine the utility of broad scale interventions.