Soldiers returning home from Iraq are found to be suffering from depression during their first months at home, according to a new study. The ‘adjustment struggle’ was more profound for the National Guard troops and reservists than it was for the active-duty soldiers.
According to the study conducted by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, about 42% of the Guard and reserves compared to 20% of active-duty soldiers needed mental health treatment in two screenings. The first testing was immediately after return from Iraq and the second after six months. Problems became more severe in the second screening with rise in interpersonal problems and difficulty in adjusting in home.
The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that over 88,000 returning soldiers showed signs of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, conflicts in relationship and other problems after six months.
To cope with the problem the US army has created a training program called Battlemind that helps soldiers and their families to prepare for the stress of war and what signs of war to watch for.
Source:yahoo news
Image:ruvr
