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When returning from active duty overseas, what is the risk for depression?
Depending on
where your spouse is stationed, the risk for depression may be no higher
than the general population, or it may be significantly increased because
of his or her location and assigned duties. The closer your spouse is to
combat, both geographically and occupationally, the higher the potential
for developing posttraumatic stress disorder and resulting alcoholism
and depression. Some recent evidence has shown that the highest rates of
posttraumatic stress disorder and resulting depression come from soldiers
who have fired on and witnessed their enemy being killed in contrast to
being injured. A recent study on returning Iraqi soldiers, however,
demonstrated that being fired on or ambushed did result in higher rates
of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Nearly every soldier who returns from combat will suffer from some
symptoms of trauma, although most will turn these experiences into
constructive, character-building memories that will serve them well in
their future endeavors. However, in those soldiers who continue to
experience symptoms consistent with the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress
disorder, the rates of depression approach 50%. The longer those symptoms
persist, the more resistant to treatment they become; thus, it is
important that they be treated as soon as possible. This is often the
tricky part, as it is hard to get a spouse returning from combat to admit
to having a problem, as he or she would feel that this admits to weakness
and failure as a soldier.
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