The authors are thankful to Terri Tanielian, Lisa Jaycox, Kevin Feeney, Emily Bever, and Alison Raab Labonte, who provided helpful suggestions on earlier versions of this manuscript. This work was funded by the Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund, which is administered by the California Community Foundation.
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Regular Article/Psychological Consequences of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Disparate prevalence estimates of PTSD among service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan: Possible explanations†
Article first published online: 4 FEB 2010
DOI: 10.1002/jts.20486
Copyright © 2010 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Issue
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Journal of Traumatic Stress
Special Issue: Psychological Consequences of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Volume 23, Issue 1, pages 59–68, February 2010
Additional Information
How to Cite
Ramchand, R., Schell, T. L., Karney, B. R., Osilla, K. C., Burns, R. M. and Caldarone, L. B. (2010), Disparate prevalence estimates of PTSD among service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan: Possible explanations. J. Traum. Stress, 23: 59–68. doi: 10.1002/jts.20486
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 18 FEB 2010
- Article first published online: 4 FEB 2010
Abstract
The authors reviewed 29 studies that provide prevalence estimates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among service members previously deployed to Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and their non-U.S. military counterparts. Studies vary widely, particularly in their representativeness and the way PTSD is defined. Among previously deployed personnel not seeking treatment, most prevalence estimates range from 5 to 20%. Prevalence estimates are generally higher among those seeking treatment: As many as 50% of veterans seeking treatment screen positive for PTSD, though much fewer receive a PTSD diagnosis. Combat exposure is the only correlate consistently associated with PTSD. When evaluating PTSD prevalence estimates among this population, researchers and policymakers should carefully consider the method used to define PTSD and the population the study sample represents.