b'Results indicated that 75 veterans with bipolar dis- Riggssuggestedthathealthcareprovidersofall order had comorbid PTSD. Controlling for PTSD,types must evaluate patients for mental health symp-veterans with bipolar disorder had a higher preva- tomsandtreatorreferasappropriate.However, lenceoftraumaincludingphysicalassault[oddshealthcare professionals cannot make these diagno-ratio (OR) = 2.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) =ses or referrals unless they see the patients. 1.39-5.86] and child sexual trauma (OR = 2.89; CI =We also need military leaders to help encourage 1.38-6.05), the authors wrote. Veterans with bipo- service members to talk about and seek care for men-lar disorder who endorsed previous suicide attemptstal health concerns, Riggs wrote in an email. This (n = 42) had significantly higher levels of exposuremay include things like changing the way they talk to childhood trauma (OR = 5.69; CI = 1.84-17.62). aboutmentalhealthorcorrectingmisperceptions The researchers suggested that a history of previ- about receiving a diagnosis.ous trauma exposure should be taken into accountProviders and leaders also should also keep in mind when assessing veterans at risk for bipolar disorder,that many mental health conditions are not necessar-especially trauma characterized as attack and child- ily permanent conditions, and they are often exac-hood sexual abuse. Particular attention should beerbated by high levels of stress such as those that given to Veterans with bipolar disorder and exposureoccur during combat deployments. Servicemembers to trauma during childhood, which may be associ- shouldbereevaluatedafterdeploymentstodeter-ated with increased risk of suicidality, they added. mine if the condition remains once the stress of the deployment is alleviated. If the condition no longer Higher Rates of Diagnosis exists, healthcare providers should see that the medi-Female soldiers had higher rates of serious mentalcal record reflects that the condition or disorder has illness such as bipolar disorder than their male coun- resolved, Riggs explained.terparts, but the actual numbers were low, accordingThese results are notable because they are different to the authors. Women make up more than 17% offrom what is expected for some disorders that are military personnel. generally more prevalent among males than females. Across all of the disorders we examined, femaleFor example, previous studies suggest males should soldiers had consistently higher rates of diagnosishavehigherratesofalcoholand/orsubstance-use than their male counterparts, said co-author Daviddisorders or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Riggs, PhD, director of the Center for Deploymentthan females. PsychologyattheUniformedServicesUniversityOur data are also somewhat different from studies of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD, told U.S.of service members and veterans who have returned Medicine. To our knowledge, this is the first studyfromcombatthatsuggestonlysmallsexdiffer-of mental health diagnoses among deployed troopsences in the psychological impact of combat deploy-that has shown this. Notably, the rates of disordersments, Riggs wrote. It is important to keep in mind reported in our study are not limited to newly diag- that our results were based on diagnoses made in the nosed disorders, they include cases that were receiv- medical records, so we were not able to look at what ing treatment for an existing diagnosis. may have led to this difference in rates.ThedatashowthatmanyservicemembersareThere are several possible explanations for the sex receivingcareformentalhealthdisorders,evendifferences found in the study.while deployed. First,itispossible,thoughunlikely,that If a servicemember is experiencing a mental healthdeployed females do experience all of these men-concern, whether at home or in-theater, they shouldtal health disorders at greater rates than deployed know they are not alone and that seeking help doesmales,Riggsexplained.Otherfactorsseem not mean that they will face adverse consequences,likelytohaveinfluencedtheratesweobserved Riggs wrote in an email. By acknowledging this,and are important to consider. To receive a diag-maybe we can help to reduce the stigma associatednosis in the medical record, a soldier must have with seeking care. We have many effective evidence- soughtcarefromahealthcareprovider.Thus, based treatments that can help. willingness to seek care and experience of stigma 73'