b'Mental Health Disorders Identified in Deployed Soldiers, Higher Among FemalesActive-duty servicemembers who have mental health disorders need continued support when they are deployed, according to a new study that underscored the need for in-theater mental healthcare providers. The Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences-led authors also found that women were more likely to report mental health issues, including serious types, such as bipolar disorder.By LaTina EmersonBETHESDA,MDMentalhealthisasignificantThe disorders with the highest case rates in-the-concern within the U.S. military, and deployed ser- ater included stress reactions/adjustment disorders, vicemembersregularlyundergodemandinganddepression,anxietyandsleepdisorders,followed stressful experiences that can contribute to mentalby post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and atten-health challenges.tion-deficitdisorder(ADD)/attention-deficit/hyper-About20%oftheactivedutypopulationwasactivity disorder (ADHD). The lowest rates among diagnosed with at least one mental health disorderdeployedsoldierswereforpsychosis,bipolar, in 2016. However, there are few studies examiningsomatic and eating disorders. ratesofmentalhealthdisordersin-theater,whichThe results highlighted the crucial need for in-the-refers to an area in which important military eventsater behavioral health providers to effectively deliver occur or are progressing. short-term treatments for stress, anxiety, depression AUniformedServicesUniversityoftheHealthand sleep disruptions. The findings may also con-Sciences-led study of mental health disorders amongtribute to developing new policies and interventions deployed U.S. Army soldiers found the highest caseto better prepare, support and treat soldiers during rates included stress reactions and adjustment dis- deployments, according to the report. orders, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders, andA recent VA study pointed out that, even though femalesoldiershadconsistentlyhigherratesthanconditionslikebipolardisorderarelesscommon, their male counterparts. historyoftraumacorrelateswithworseningout-The report, In-Theater Mental Health Disorderscomesinthosepatients. ThestudyinPsychiatric AmongU.S.SoldiersDeployedBetween2008Researchlookedatassociationsbetweentrauma and 2013, part of a Medical Surveillance Monthlyexposure (type and timing) and suicide attempt in Report, a peer-reviewed journal of the Armed Forcesveterans with bipolar disorder. 2Health Surveillance Division. The most significantResearchersfromtheDurham,NC, VAMC,Duke finding of the in-theater mental health study was thatUniversity and colleagues had 106 veterans with a diag-rates of diagnosis of mental health disorders in thenosis of bipolar disorder and 815 veterans with no psy-U.S. military population differ by sex. 1 chiatric history (age rage = 20-72 years old) complete In this report, case rates were calculated across 12aclinicalquestionnaire,theBeckScaleforSuicide categories of mental health disorders using diagnos- Ideation, and the Traumatic Live Events Questionnaire. tic encounter data from the Theater Medical DataThe researchers analyzed the data for correlations Store. The study cohort consisted of 530,404 activewith diagnosis, time of trauma (before, during, or duty servicemembers in the U.S. Army who wereafter the military), trauma type (attack, illness, acci-deployed to an overseas contingency operations areadent, child violence, child sexual abuse and adult between the calendar years 2008 and 2013. sexual abuse) and suicide attempt.72'