University of Texas researchers have discovered that soldiers who quickly look away from fearful images are more vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder, a finding that could lead to better training and preparation for service members before they go off to war.
The study, which evaluated Fort Hood soldiers before, during and after a deployment to Iraq, also found that soldiers who fixated on sad images were more susceptible to depression.
An estimated 20 percent of service members in Iraq and Afghanistan return with PTSD or major depression, and researchers say their findings could help the U.S. military develop prevention programs to help soldiers cope with the stresses of war.
The costs of combat-related PTSD are high. Service members can suffer from flashbacks, emotional detachment, nightmares and difficulties maintaining relationships, sometimes for years. A 2008 Rand Corp. study estimated that in the two years after deployment, the cost of treating PTSD or major depression in service members, coupled with the value of their lost productivity, was more than $6 billion.
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