Army Schools Soldiers on PTSD, Brain Injury

Posted on Jul 17, 2007

The U.S. Army is starting a corps-wide push to educate soldiers on all levels about the signs and symptoms of brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), both of which are taking major tolls on active troops and veterans from the Iraq war.

AP via New York Times:

The program is one of many being taken by the Army and the Department of Defense to try to keep up with the wounded and injured from an Iraq conflict that has gone on longer than expected—and with a rising number of patients that has overwhelmed the system.

The insurgent tactic of using roadside bombs is the top killer in Iraq and also responsible for brain injuries ranging from mild concussions up to severe trauma. Exposure to combat, especially for long and repeated tours, also has caused increasing stress and mental health problems among soldiers.

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