Of the 25 percent who report experiencing mental health problems after their return from duty, nearly half-or 13,000 people-were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a disorder which affects less than 4 percent of the general public.
Although, post-traumatic stress disorder was the most common mental health ailment, afflicting 13 percent of the group, U.S. soldiers also reported higher-than-average incidences of anxiety (6 percent), depression and substance-use (5 percent, respectively)-all also categorized under the mental health umbrella.
The researchers also found that those soldiers most at risk for developing mental health disorders were those aged between 18-24, with that group having "a significantly higher risk of receiving one or more mental health diagnoses and post-traumatic stress disorder compared with active duty veterans 40 years or older."
Dr. Chirag Raval, a psychiatrist in the Army Reserves who served in Iraq and is medical director for the mental health program at the Hines Veterans Hospital, likens the mental health toll taken by the unpredictable nature of combat in Iraq to what was experienced by soldiers in Vietnam.
"There is no front line to this war. With hand-propelled rockets, mortars and improvised explosive device attacks there is no true safe place in Iraq. You can be anywhere, even on your base, and still not be safe," he said.
