Army wants to know why some soldiers don't go for help

US Army examines why some soldiers avoid PTSD care, strategies to keep them in treatment
May 7, 2012
Psychology and Psychiatry

U.S. Army researcher Maj. Gary H. Wynn, M.D., shared new analysis on why some Soldiers suffering from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) never seek care or drop out of treatment early during a presentation today at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting. His presentation, "Epidemiology of Combat-Related PTSD in U.S. Service Members: Lessons Learned," also described the approaches the Army is using to address this issue and improve overall patient outcomes.

Currently, fewer than half of the Soldiers who report symptoms of combat-related PTSD receive the care they need. And of those Soldiers who do start treatment, between 20 percent and 50 percent walk away before its completion. According to recent studies*, some of the key reasons include Soldiers' general lack of trust for any mental health professional, a belief that psychological problems tend to work themselves out on their own and a perception that seeking mental health treatment should be a last resort.

"We've learned that keeping Soldiers who are already enrolled in PTSD treatment from dropping out is the most important strategy for improving outcomes," said Maj. Wynn, a research psychiatrist, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. "This requires better matching of evidence-based therapies with patient preferences to improve engagement and a patient's willingness to remain in care."

And the need for care is significant. During his presentation, Maj. Wynn provided an overview of recent research that shows the vast majority of U.S. infantry in combat zones have at least one experience during deployment that could potentially lead to combat-related PTSD, such as receiving incoming artillery, rocket or mortar fire (93 percent), being attacked or ambushed (91 percent) or knowing someone seriously injured or killed (87 percent). Research also suggests that increased exposure to these traumatic events, such as during multiple deployments common throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, increases a Soldier's risk of developing PTSD-related symptoms.
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