Sunday, April 20, 2008

1 in 5 veterans found with mental disorder - Depression, stress called undertreated

The latest and most comprehensive study of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has concluded that nearly 1 in every 5 veterans is suffering from depression or stress disorders and that many are not getting adequate care.
more stories like this

* Wars, guns and money
* Nearly 1 in 5 troops has mental problems after war service
* Summary: Nearly 1 in 5 troops has mental problems after war
* Nearly 1 in 5 vets reports mental problems
* Study: 300,000 veterans suffer mental problems
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The study shows that mental disorders are more prevalent and lasting than previously known, surfacing belatedly and lingering after troops have been discharged into civilian and family life.

An estimated 300,000 veterans among the nearly 1.7 million who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are battling depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. More than half of those people, according to the study conducted by the Rand Corp., are slipping through the cracks in the bureaucratic system, going without necessary treatment.

The Rand study underscores one of the hard lessons of modern counterinsurgency conflicts: Such wars might kill fewer soldiers than traditional fights but can leave deeper psychological scars.

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