Citation

Ritchie EC. Mil. Med. 2007; 172(12 Suppl): 11-14.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20614, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18214129

Abstract

The U.S. military has long emphasized the principles of prevention and early intervention in preparing for and treating those afflicted by the psychological wounds of war. This article opens with lessons learned by the U.S. military through wartime during the past century. Current practice in the military's employment of stress control teams is reviewed. Updates in the military efforts in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to prevent and to limit psychological casualties are stressed. Misconduct has occurred in this conflict; future steps to reduce aberrant behavior by soldiers are discussed. The challenges of reintegration at home, by both healthy and wounded soldiers, are highlighted.

Language: en