Association Between Number of Deployments to Iraq and Mental Health Screening Outcomes in US Army Soldiers

Abstract

These results provide preliminary evidence that multiple deployments to Iraq may be a risk factor for PTSD. However, these cross-sectional data require replication in a longitudinal study.

Deployment-related mental disorders among Canadian Forces personnel deployed in support of the mission in Afghanistan, 2001–2008

“…32 Others have also noted the higher rates of mental disorders among Army personnel and those of lower rank. 33 Although concerns have been raised about an increased risk of deployment-related mental health problems among women, 34 reservists, 35 personnel with multiple deployments 36 and those with more prolonged deployments, 37 we found no such associations. Our finding of a strong association with deployment location mirrors data on the health effects of different deployments: for example, no association between deployment and mental disorders was seen for US peacekeeping deployments to the Middle East, Bosnia or Kosovo in the 1990s, 33 whereas a strong association was seen for the current conflicts in Southwest Asia.…”

Diagnoses and factors associated with medical evacuation and return to duty among nonmilitary personnel participating in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

“…This observation may reflect the more sophisticated screening instruments used over the course of the study, a lower threshold for diagnosis, and a decreased threshold for the manifestation of symptoms after repeated military operations. 17,18 The adverse effect of psychopathology on return-towork after injury is consistent with findings in nonmilitary contexts. 19,20 The last notable finding was the higher evacuation rate and lower return-to-duty rate among nonmilitary personnel versus military personnel with circulatory disorders and noncardiac chest pain, of which a substantial proportion were actually of cardiac origin.…”

Prevalence and characteristics of driving difficulties in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom combat returnees

“…Prevalence estimates of PTSD for this cohort have ranged between 11 and 18 percent [17][18][19][20], although some estimates have been upwards of 30 percent [21]. Given that the war is ongoing and many soldiers have multiple deployments [21][22], a factor shown to inc rease risk of de veloping PTSD [23], PTSD prevalence rates among OIF/OEF servicemembers could grow even higher.…”