ABSTRACT
Throughout history, military troops deployed into battle have been found to be one of the most high-risk populations for the development of traumarelated stress disorders (Harvey, Bryant, & Tarrier, 2003; Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995; Prigerson, Maciejewski, & Rosenheck, 2002). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a frequent and significant mental health consequence of exposure to violence and trauma (Kessler et al., 1995). Today, exposure to extreme combat violence and trauma by military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan is a primary contributor to PTSD among Americans (Hoge et al., 2004, 2006, 2007; Milliken, Auchterlonie, & Hoge 2007). Since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, almost 2 million U.S. military personnel have deployed to Afghanistan and surrounding areas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). These deployments of U.S. service members are the largest since the Vietnam War and have resulted in exposure of many troops to a variety of deployment-related stressors.
