Which Soldiers Are at Greatest Risk of Developing PTSD?

Siri Stafford/Lifesize/Thinkstock(SAN DIEGO) -- Military service members who screened positive for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder before deploying overseas are more likely to develop the disorder, according to a new study published Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Researchers at San Diego State University found that troops who showed the early symptoms were five times more likely to develop PTSD after returning from their tours abroad than those who didn't show the initial signs.

Futhermore, troops taking psychiatric drugs or under stress before deployment were 2.5 times more likely to develop the disorder than colleagues without these risk factors.  Those who suffered a severe injury during deployment also had an increased chance of developing PTSD later on.

The study's authors concluded that this study may help identify more vulnerable members of the deployed military population, leading to early intervention and prevention of PTSD.

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