PTSD plagues Iraq, Afghanistan vets

by Aamer Madhani

Nearly 300,000 U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from major depression or post traumatic stress, according to a new study released today by the RAND Corporation.

The RAND study estimates the societal costs of PTSD and major depression for two years after deployment range from about $6,000 to more than $25,000 per case, and that the total society costs of the conditions for two years range from $4 billion to $6.2 billion.

The study’s conclusions are based on interviews with 1,965 U.S. troops. About 1.6 million service members have deployed to the conflicts since the war in Afghanistan began in late 2001.

“If PTSD and depression go untreated or are under treated, there is a cascading set of consequences,” said Lisa Jaycox, one of the researchers who lead the study. “Drug use, suicide, marital problems and unemployment are some of the consequences. There will be a bigger societal impact if these service members go untreated. The consequences are not good for the individuals or society in general.”

The study, which echoes some of the previous research showing PTSD and depression are serious problems plaguing veterans, comes in the midst of a broadening conversation on Capitol Hill about the long-term costs of fighting two lengthy wars.

The study concluded that 18.5 percent of U.S. service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD or depression, while 19.5 percent have suffered some sort of traumatic brain injury.

Perhaps, the most alarming finding of the study is that only about half of those suffering PTSD or depression seek help. Of those who seek help, just over half receive “minimally adequate treatment.”

About 44 percent of those surveyed suggested that concerns about being denied security clearance or worry that having mental health issues would harm their careers were among the barriers that prevent them from seeking help.