3. High Rate of PTSD in Returning Iraq War Veterans
Bob Roehr
November 6, 2007 (Washington, DC) -- Estimates of the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans returning from Iraq range from 12% to 20%. With deployment topping 1.5 million this summer, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) having treated more than 52,000 persons, the greatest effect of those mental health issues has yet to be experienced. These problems and interventions were presented here at the American Public Health Association 135th Annual Meeting.
Evan Kanter, MD, PhD, staff psychiatrist in the PTSD Outpatient Clinic of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, said that estimates are for a minimum of 300,000 psychiatric casualties from service in Iraq, to this point, with an estimated lifetime cost of treatment of $660 billion. That is more than the actual cost of the war to date ($500 billion).
"A study of the first 100,000 [Iraq and Afghanistan] veterans seen at VA facilities showed that 25% of them received mental health diagnoses. Of these, 56% had 2 or more mental health diagnoses. The most common were PTSD, substance abuse, and depression," Dr. Kanter said. "The younger the veterans are, the more likely they are to have mental health conditions."
Evaluation immediately on return from deployment suggested that 5% of active duty and 6% of reserve personnel had a significant mental health problem. When reassessed 3 to 6 months later, 27% of active duty and 42% of reserve personnel received that evaluation.
www.medscape.com
Sorry boys and girls, Everlong says you knew what you were getting into so suck it up and quit whining.
4. High Rate of Brain Injury In Returning Iraq War Veterans
It has been reported that upwards of 60% of returning Iraq war veterans suffer from some type of traumatic brain injury. Half of the returning veterans suffer the effects of mild tbi with the remainder suffering from both moderate and severe brain injury. The brain injuries include concussion, penetrating brain injury, skull fractures and coma.
braininjury.blogs.com
Sorry guys, Everlong says you should have known what you were in for when you signed up.....same with you guys trying to learn to walk again by using prothetics or trying to learn to tie your shoes with that new arm.
5. Posted 3/7/2006 12:00 AM Updated 3/6/2006 11:19 PM
8,000 desert during Iraq war
By Bill Nichols, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON At least 8,000 members of the all-volunteer U.S. military have deserted since the Iraq war began, Pentagon records show, although the overall desertion rate has plunged since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.
Since fall 2003, 4,387 Army soldiers, 3,454 Navy sailors and 82 Air Force personnel have deserted. The Marine Corps does not track the number of desertions each year but listed 1,455 Marines in desertion status last September, the end of fiscal 2005
www.usatoday.com
Gee, I wonder why the big increase in all these war vets deserting? Didn't they KNOW what they signed up for before they went to iraqnam??
Wise up some, will ya Everlong?
