At least 40,000 have post-traumatic stress

At least 40,000 have post-traumatic stress

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Pentagon figures show 40,000 U.S. troops have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder since 2003. But officials believe many more are keeping their illness secret.

Army Surgeon General Eric Schoomaker says officials have no reliable figures on how many troops have PTSD or how many have sought treatment for it after serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That's because officials are encouraging troops to get help — even if they go to civilian therapists and don't report it.

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It appears that the number of cases reported is far less than the actual number. This will serious consequences for the military.

"Wartime PTSD cases jumped roughly 50 pct. in 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of troops diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder jumped by roughly 50 percent in 2007, the most violent year so far in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pentagon records show...

...The Pentagon had previously only given a percentage of troops believed affected by depression, anxiety, stress and so on - saying up to 20 percent return home with such symptoms. A recent private study estimated that could mean up to 300,000 of those who've served have symptoms"

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[edit on 27-5-2008 by Leo Strauss]