Recently a study was conducted to find out whether neuropsychological changes occur following deployment to war zones.  The study showed that within a one-year soldiers showed significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from war. It did not matter how soon a soldier was deployed; soldiers developed PTSD whether they were there 3 weeks or three months.  In fact any exposure to intense combat can be associated with PTSD regardless of how recently a soldier was deployed. The soldiers who developed PTSD were all exposed to traumatic events.

 

Previous research has shown evidence that as soldiers face long drawn-out stressful and life threatening situations, changes in their brains direct their thinking. The mental capacity for learning and memory turn toward survival.

 

For instance, they may respond to dangerous events more quickly while losing the ability to pay attention and remember events not related to combat. However, it remains unknown whether deployment-related neuropsychological changes persist over time and are associated with stress-related factors such as combat intensity, PTSD symptoms and depressive reactions.

 

Brian P. Marx, Ph.D., of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, studied 268 male and female regular active-duty soldiers who served. All the soldiers were given neuropsychological tests measuring response time, attention and memory before and after deployment. They were dived into two groups.164 were tested both immediately and one year following their return, whereas a second group of 104 returned more recently and were tested before deployment and then a midpoint, 122 days after returning. The assessments also documented demographic and military information, risk factors for neuropsychological disorders, combat intensity, and emotional distress.

 

The tests showed that soldiers who were tested one-year later had cases of PTSD that had become worse and had become more chronic.  The soldiers who were tested one year later had poorer attention, but the soldiers who were tested as soon as they returned did not have such extreme results.  This concludes that PTSD will become worse if it is left untreated. 

 

Recent findings reveal high rates of poor mental health among U.S. service members upon return from deployment.  They found out that soldiers without help and therapy developed serious neuropsychological problems due to the chronic PTSD symptoms.  Neuropsychological may not show right away but if left untreated it can become worse in a short period.

 

They also found that the stress that these soldiers were experiencing had a significant impact on their physical health such as immune functioning and cardiovascular disease. In addition, soldiers thinking patterns both positive and negative are associated with combat exposure or PTSD.  PTSD may represent a warning sign relevant to long-term health, so if you are suffering from it or you think you may be suffering from it then you need to go for help immediately.

 

PTSD can affect you both mentally and physically.  Contact the veterans association to find out where there is a local veteran’s clinic near you that can help you get back on track.  When it comes to your health there is no playing around. 

The Veteran Association contact link:

https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/enduser/home.php