Study says 300,000 U.S. troops suffer mental problems

[G_j]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080417/hl_nm/iraq_usa_health_dc


Study says 300,000 U.S. troops suffer mental problems
By David Morgan 2 hours, 13 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 300,000 U.S. troops
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, but
about half receive no care, an independent study said
on Thursday.

The study by the RAND Corp. also estimated that
another 320,000 troops have sustained a possible
traumatic brain injury during deployment. But
researchers could not say how many of those cases were
serious or required treatment.

Billed as the first large-scale nongovernmental survey
of its kind, the study found that stress disorder and
depression afflict 18.5 percent of the more than 1.5
million U.S. forces who have deployed to the two war
zones.

The numbers are roughly in line with previous studies.
A February assessment by the U.S. Army that showed
17.9 percent of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
suffering from acute stress, depression or anxiety in
2007, down from 19.1 percent in 2006.

But the 500-page RAND study, based in part on
interviews with more than 1,900 soldiers, sailors and
Marines, also said that only half of troops suffering
debilities receive care. And in half of those cases,
the care is only minimally adequate.
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[qanda]

1. But do they wear flag pins?

Because obviously that's more pressing than what's happening to our troops. These are the types of issues which need to be addressed by the candidates for President.

[Rydz777]

2. Yes, it's true that driving around in the middle of a

civil war, suicide bombers at every intersection, anticipating death or dismemberment at any moment - yes, that might cause mental upset. This war is an atrocity imposed on our own service members.

[G_j]

3. k