Combat experiences and PTSD

People in the military have many different types of combat experiences. Many of these experiences could cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here are some combat experiences reported by 3,671 Army and Marine Corps personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003.

* Question not included in Afghanistan survey.

Source: Hoge CW, et al. (2004). Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems, and barriers to care. New England Journal of Medicine, 351(1): 13–22.

The above combat experiences are traumatic events. PTSD can occur after these types of events.

Experts think PTSD occurs:

• In about 30% of Vietnam veterans, or about 30 out of 100 Vietnam veterans.¹ A more recent review of data seems to show that about 19%, or 19 out of 100 Vietnam veterans, have had symptoms of PTSD.²
• In as many as 10% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans, or in about 10 veterans out of 100.³
• In about 6% to 11% of veterans of the Afghanistan war (Enduring Freedom), or in 6 to 11 veterans out of 100.⁴
• In about 12% to 20% of veterans of the Iraq war (Iraqi Freedom), or in 12 to 20 veterans out of 100.⁴

1. Kulka RA, et al. (1990). Evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder. In Trauma and the Vietnam War Generation, pp. 50–71. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

2. Dohrenwend BP, et al. (2006). The psychological risks of Vietnam for U.S. veterans: A revisit with new data and method. Science, 313(5789): 979–982.

3. Kang HK, et al. (2003). Post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness among Gulf War veterans: A population-based survey of 30,000 veterans. American Journal of Epidemiology, 157(2): 141–148.

4. Hoge CW, et al. (2004). Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems, and barriers to care. New England Journal of Medicine, 351(1): 13–22.