Page 59 - Biobehavioral Resilence to Stress

36 Biobehavorial Resilience to Stress

mark the contributions and sacrifices of others and thus also to recognize

and reinforce their own sense of individual and unit pride in dedication to
purpose.
In the redeployment phase, individual service members are formally
screened for symptoms of trauma, depression, and stress. Each service
member is required to complete a postdeployment health assessment (DD
Form 2796) prior to leaving the theater of operations. Th is screening instru-
ment is designed to identify individuals who may be at risk for stress-related
problems and, if indicated, to provide referral for mental health evaluation

and treatment, as needed, before the affected service member returns home.
The postdeployment health assessment screening procedure does not

guarantee that all symptomatic service members will be identifi ed prior
to returning home. To the contrary, it is reasonable to assume that some
individuals may respond to screening questions dishonestly simply to avoid
delay returning home due to evaluation and treatment. It is also understood
that some symptoms may not be noticeable or problematic for many weeks or

months after returning home from combat. Therefore, service members are

reassessed 3–6 months after their return from combat.

The postdeployment health reassessment (DD 2900) screening procedure
is designed to identify service members who are experiencing diffi culty in
managing reintegration or who have developed medical or psychiatric
illness since their return from deployment. As service members complete
each deployment cycle and begin preparations for subsequent tours of
deployment, these screening, prevention, and treatment procedures occur
in cyclical fashion and help to ensure optimal readiness in an at-risk
population.

Managing Stress-Related Disorders in Theater

This section addresses interventions and strategies applied to support service
members’ ability to function adequately when confronted by stress-related
disorders or symptoms that may be provoked or exacerbated by service in
combat or in other deployed settings. This discussion will focus on three

categories of stress-related and mood disorders—depression, anxiety, and
sleep disorders—which are the three psychiatric problems most commonly
diagnosed and managed in the military theater of operations.

Depression

Depression is a complex psychological phenomenon whose symptoms include

physical, emotional, and cognitive difficulties. Any or all of these symptoms
can have a direct negative impact on an individual’s ability to confront and

12/13/2007 6:09:38 PM
CRC_71777_Ch002.indd 36 12/13/2007 6:09:38 PM
CRC_71777_Ch002.indd 36