KEY POINTS:
About 9 per cent of US troops who have performed combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan report experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study led by Defence Department researchers.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, provides the latest estimate of this mental disorder among US troops returning from those wars.
It tracked PTSD among about 50,000 US troops, looking at differences in rates among those who saw combat, those who deployed in noncombat roles and those who did not deploy.
Some troops develop it after wartime trauma like suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt. It often appears months or years after a traumatic event.
"The unpredictability and intensity of urban combat, constant risk of roadside bombs, multiple and prolonged tours, and complex problems of differentiating enemies from allies can leave many troops with high stress levels and possible lasting health consequences," the researchers wrote.
The troops in the study were first questioned about their health from 2001 to 2003 before deployment, then again from 2004 to 2006.
- REUTERS
