Psychiatric Disorders in Combat Zone Veterans: What Mandatory Screens Can Find

Since 2002, 33% of eligible veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq have sought healthcare through the Veterans Administration (VA). Some veterans returning from these areas report mental health problems 3 to 4 months after returning from deployment, and service-related psychiatric difficulties are known to occur even years after military duty (see Journal Watch Psychiatry Jun 11 2007 and Mar 22 2006). The VA recently initiated postdeployment screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and high-risk alcohol use among veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Researchers analyzed outcomes related to the screening of 750 veterans seen at a VA medical center or its community clinics.

Clinicians received electronic reminders to perf…