By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Newly diagnosed cases ofpost-traumatic stress disorder among U.S. troops sent to Iraqand Afghanistan surged 46.4 percent in 2007, bringing thefive-year total to more than 38,000, according to U.S. militarydata released on Tuesday.
The statistics, released by the Army, showed the number ofnew PTSD cases formally diagnosed at U.S. military facilitiesclimbed to 13,981 last year from 9,549 in 2006.
The numbers rose as President George W. Bush poured extraforces into Iraq to try to quell sectarian violence andextended Army tours from 12 to 15 months. The United States hasalso sent more forces to Afghanistan.
The figures, encompassing all four branches of the U.S.armed services, showed that the Army alone had 10,049 new PTSDcases last year.
This brings the total number of military-diagnosed PTSDcases to at least 38,186 among troops sent to Iraq andAfghanistan between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2007.
The totals include 28,365 cases for the Army and 5,641 forthe Marines. Annual statistics provided for the Navy and AirForce did not include complete data for all five years.
Army officials said the larger number of PTSD diagnoses inrecent years partly reflects greater awareness and tracking ofthe disorder by the U.S. military.
LONGER, MULTIPLE COMBAT TOURS
"But we're also exposing more people to combat," Lt. Gen.Eric Schoomaker, the Army surgeon general, told reporters.
Experts also say PTSD symptoms increase as soldiers returnto combat for multiple tours of duty.
PTSD is a health condition that can result from wartimetrauma such as being physically wounded or seeing others hurtor killed.
Symptoms range from irritability and outbursts of anger tosleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilanceand an exaggerated startle response. People with the conditioncan persistently relive the traumatic events that initiallyinduced horror or helplessness.
The Pentagon has come under mounting political pressure inrecent years to enhance treatment for PTSD amid criticism thatinitial programs were inadequate.
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Robert Gatesannounced a change in the U.S. government clearance processthat allows PTSD sufferers to seek help for combat-relatedmental health problems without risking their military careers.
Army officials on Tuesday emphasized that the data do notreflect the actual number of troops and war veterans who sufferfrom PTSD, many of whom do not seek treatment or have beendiagnosed at civilian facilities where records areconfidential.
A recent study by the RAND Corp. estimated that about300,000 troops, or 18.5 percent, of the more than 1.5 milliontroops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan exhibit symptoms of eitherPTSD or depression.
But the fresh statistics provide add detail about the scaleof human suffering from two wars that have killed 4,579 U.S.troops and inflicted physical wounds on 32,076 more.
There are currently 155,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 33,000in Afghanistan.
(Editing by Will Dunham and Eric Walsh)