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In Reply: We agree with Dr Larson and colleagues that there are reassuring aspects to our study, although for different reasons than they discuss. Service members who accessed mental health care did so within 2 months of returning from deployment, and most mental health care did not result in serious diagnoses. The distinction between symptoms of PTSD and the diagnosis of PTSD is often missed in media reports. The Department of Defense has been working to reduce stigma and encourage service members to seek care early before symptoms become severe or chronic. Our study suggested that many service members are receiving preventive mental health services shortly after returning from deployment.

Some of the arguments of Larson et al are not well supported by available data. Service members who are found fit to deploy are likely to be healthier than the military population at large. Thus, the most valid comparisons are . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Charles W. Hoge, MD
charles.hoge@na.amedd.army.mil
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Silver Spring, Md

Jennifer L. Auchterlonie, MS
US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine
Washington, DC

Charles S. Milliken, MD
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Silver Spring, Md

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