Pentagon has not evaluated PTSD and TBI programs, just repeated them

Over four years ago when programs like Battlemind came out, I started screaming that no one was asking for any proof it worked. What we ended up with was more suicides every year. What did the DOD do? They repeated the same failed programs under different names while more and more of our military men and women were killing themselves! Now, after all this time the Associated Press has finally begun to ask some serious questions. What ... .... took them so long to ask for anyone to be held accountable? Why hasn't Congress been asking them instead of asking grieving families to repeat the same heartbreaking stories they've been listening to for the last ten years?

APNewsBreak: Report: Pentagon doesn't evaluate its 200-plus programs on PTSD, brain injuries
DAN ELLIOTT Associated Press
First Posted: November 14, 2011
DENVER — A study commissioned by the Pentagon says the military has more than 200 programs devoted to brain Injuries and the psychological Health of its troops, but no uniform way to evaluate whether they work or to share their findings.

The Rand Corp. study says some programs duplicate others and that the Pentagon risks making a poor investment of its resources without better coordination.

The Pentagon didn't immediately comment on the study.
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UPDATE

APNewsBreak: Study: PTSD Programs Duplicated

By DAN ELLIOTT Associated Press
DENVER November 15, 2011
The U.S. military has more than 200 programs devoted to brain injuries and the psychological health of its men and women, but no uniform way to evaluate whether they work or to share their findings, according to a study commissioned by the Pentagon.

The Rand Corp. study said some programs overlap and the proliferation of programs creates "a high risk of a poor investment" of military spending.

Military officials are still reviewing the report, but some of its recommendations are already being implemented, Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said Monday.

The proliferation of programs came about because each branch of the service has the authority to create its own programs and because local commanders can also create or adapt programs to fit needs, Smith said in an email to The Associated Press.

The Defense Department estimates that nearly 213,000 U.S. military personnel have suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2000. An earlier Rand report estimated that 300,000 veterans of those wars suffered post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression.
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