Rates of Psychological Health Issues in U.S. Military Populations

This course series is intended for all behavioral health professionals who work with Service members, Veterans, and their families. At the end of the series you will have some basic knowledge about how data is collected. In addition, you will learn how the rates of psychological health problems in Service Members compare to those among the general population, and how deployment and combat experience affects psychological risk.  This information will help you make sense of statistical information that sometimes seems complicated and contradictory; and it will ensure that you are aware of the upcoming clinical needs of Service members as you make clinical and professional decisions.

Unit 1: Understanding the Data
This unit presents an overview of how data is collected, and how the manner in which data is collected, or the methodology of a study, affects the results. It also presents examples from some commonly cited studies to illustrate these concepts as they apply to prevalence rates among Service members. This will be a timely refresher of key concepts to help you make sense of the statistical data you need to better understand the needs of your patients. In addition, this unit lays the foundation for subsequent units describing the rates of some of the most common or important psychological health issues in US military populations.

Coming Soon - Unit 2: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
This unit presents an overview of the rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in US military populations. You will review:

  • The types of events that place someone at risk of developing PTSD
  • How common these events are in both the general population and the military population
  • How the rates of PTSD in Service members compare to those among the general population
  • How deployment and combat exposure affect the risk of developing PTSD

Additional Units Coming Soon…
Rates of depression, TBI, sleep disturbance, suicidal behavior, substance abuse, and sexual trauma. The last unit of the series discusses combined risk among Service members for the different conditions, as well as issues of comorbidity and symptom overlap.