Prevalence and Screening of Mental Health Problems Among U.S. Combat Soldiers Pre- and Post- Deployment
Abstract
Mental disorders are some of the most common and disabling medical conditions among military service members. Deployment, particularly to combat zones, has been associated with a variety of mental health, social, and occupational effects, including PTSD (15-40% lifetime rate after combat), depression, substance abuse, job loss, unemployment, divorce, and spouse abuse. To better provide early intervention for mental health problems, the U.S. military has been conducting routine psychological screening since 1996 before and after operational deployments, and has included mental health screening in the post deployment health assessment mandated for troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite these efforts, little research has been done to determine the prevalence of mental health problems among combat / operational units, the validity and benefits / risks of screening, or the optimal delivery of mental health services.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA433449
Entities
People
- Amy B Adler
- Carl A. Castro
- Charles C. Milliken
- Charles W. Hoge
- Jeffrey Thomas
- Kathleen Wright
- Paul Bliese
Organizations
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research