Texas Tech psychologist to head study aimed at curbing veterans' suicides

Tech psychologist to head study aimed at curbing veterans' suicides
By Marlena Hartz AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Friday, April 03, 2009
Story last updated at 4/3/2009 - 1:17 am

The U.S. Department of Defense has chosen a Texas Tech psychologist to lead a three-year study intended to reduce suicides among veterans.

Suicide rates in the U.S. Army reached an all-time high in 2008, according to Army officials. Last year, 128 active-duty soldiers committed suicide, an Army spokesman told The Avalanche-Journal. Another 15 potential suicides are under investigation, he said.

In other branches, suicides are less common. They reported between 38 and 41 suicides last year, according to an Air Force Times story.

The Army's alarming suicide trend continues this year, said David Rudd, the chairman of Tech's psychology department who will head the $1.97 million Defense Department study.

"For the first time in history this January, more soldiers died by suicide than in combat. The problem is fairly complex, but ultimately, we've been in a two-front war now for six years. There have been high rates of psychological problems associated with that, and when that occurs, suicide rates increase," Rudd is quoted as saying in a Tech news release.

Rudd said his study will examine whether a short-term psychological treatment plan can reduce suicide rates with those who report feeling suicidal.

He will work in conjunction with the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, the Warrior Resiliency Program at Brooke Army Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania.

In September, Rudd and his team will begin a random clinical trial offering cognitive behavioral psychotherapy to suicidal soldiers at Fort Carson, Colo., according to the Tech news release.
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Tech psychologist to head study aimed at curbing veterans' suicides