Call for better tracking, treatment of PTSD

WASHINGTON -- Soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan should undergo annual screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, and federal agencies should conduct more research to determine how well the various treatments for PTSD are working, the Institute of Medicine recommended Friday.

Of the 2.6 million service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, it's estimated that 13 percent to 20 percent have symptoms of PTSD.

Federal agencies have increasingly dedicated more resources to screen and treat soldiers, but considerable gaps remain, according to the institute, an independent group of experts that advises the federal government on medical issues. Its recommendations often make their way into federal laws and policies.

Barely more than half of those diagnosed with PTSD actually get treatment, often because many soldiers worry it could jeopardize their careers. Also, when soldiers do get care, they're not tracked to determine which treatments are successful in the long term.

The Department of Defense provides medical care to active members of the military, and the Department of Veterans Affairs cares for those who no longer serve. Sandro Galea, the chairman of the institute's panel, said both departments offer many programs for PTSD.

"But treatment isn't reaching everyone who needs it, and the departments aren't tracking which treatments are being used or evaluating how well they work in the long term," said Galea, a professor and chair of the epidemiology department at Columbia University. "In addition, DOD has no information on the effectiveness of its programs to prevent PTSD."

Cynthia O. Smith, a DOD spokeswoman, said the department has already taken steps to address some of the issues raised in the report.