The impact of combat doesn’t always fade with time. Depression may happen in many military personnel long after their return from deployment. For some, symptoms appear immediately.
It’s important to examine how depression can develop over time and what these patterns mean for the mental health support veterans require after deployment.
What Is the Link Between Deployment and Mental Health?
Soldiers experiences can lead to a range of mental health conditions. Depression being one of the most common.
Combat Exposure
Combat exposure significantly increases the risk of developing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that 15% of U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were diagnosed with PTSD.
Soldiers exposed to violence, death, and the constant threat to life often experience deep emotional and psychological scars. The psychological toll of combat is compounded by witnessing the loss of fellow soldiers, further intensifying feelings of grief and trauma.
Prolonged Stress
Deployment is often marked by prolonged periods of intense stress. Soldiers may face continuous danger, lack of sleep, and uncertainty. All while having little to no access to immediate mental health support. Prolonged stress without proper outlets or support increases the likelihood of developing depression. The inability to process or recover from traumatic experiences in real-time contributes to long-term psychological issues.
Isolation from Family and Support Systems
Isolation from loved ones can lead to feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and sadness. Family support is an important buffer against depression.
Yet, soldiers often return home to strained relationships, worsening feelings of disconnection. Reintegration into family life after deployment is challenging for many veterans, leading to tension and difficulty in reestablishing emotional connections. This strain can manifest in relationship conflicts, heightening the risk of mental health problems.
PTSD as a Comorbid Condition
Over 50% of individuals diagnosed with PTSD also experience significant depressive symptoms. The constant state of hypervigilance and emotional distress can erode mental health, making depression more likely. Veterans suffering from PTSD frequently describe feeling overwhelmed by sadness, helplessness, and a loss of control over their emotions. All of which elevate the risk of depression.
Reintegration Challenges
Many veterans struggle to find a sense of purpose after leaving the military’s highly structured and mission-driven environment. The transition to civilian jobs can be difficult. Veterans may face barriers in workforce reintegration and adapting to everyday life. Moreover, 64% of veterans experienced difficulties returning to work. The feeling of purposelessness, combined with the loss of military camaraderie, can increase feelings of isolation and depression.
What Does the Study on Depressive Trajectories in Military Personnel Reveal?
The study focused on a cohort of 1,032 military personnel deployed to Afghanistan from 2005 to 2008. It identified four distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms observed over a 10-year period post-deployment.
These findings are important in knowing how depression develops and persists in military personnel.
Four Key Depressive Trajectories
- Resilient (65%): Most participants fell into this category, showing minimal depressive symptoms throughout the 10-year period. These individuals demonstrated a high degree of psychological resilience. They managed to cope with deployment challenges without significant long-term emotional consequences.
- Intermediate-stable (20%): This group experienced moderate but stable depressive symptoms. They were not as resilient as the first group. However, their symptoms remained steady, suggesting some adaptation or coping mechanisms that prevented further decline.
- Symptomatic-chronic (9%): This smaller group experienced consistently high levels of depressive symptoms throughout the 10 years post-deployment. Many had a history of early-life trauma. They were also more frequently exposed to deployment stressors. These factors likely contributed to their chronic depression.
- Late-onset-increasing (6%): The most concerning trajectory involved a group that exhibited low depressive symptoms initially. Their symptoms increased steadily over time. The delayed onset of depression could be due to cumulative stressors. It may also result from delayed reactions to traumatic experiences during deployment.
Impact of PTSD and Early-Life Trauma
The study revealed a strong connection between PTSD symptoms and depressive trajectories. Soldiers with higher PTSD scores tended to fall into the symptomatic-chronic and late-onset-increasing groups. Unresolved trauma from deployment continues to influence mental health long after returning home. PTSD often worsens depressive symptoms. This makes recovery more difficult for affected soldiers.
Early-life trauma significantly influenced which trajectory a soldier would follow. Soldiers who experienced adverse childhood events, such as abuse or neglect, were more likely to develop chronic depression post-deployment. The long-term psychological effects of early trauma are evident. Military personnel with these backgrounds often require additional mental health support. Providing tailored care can help address their specific needs.
The Role of Deployment Stressors
The study identified deployment stressors as another key factor influencing depressive outcomes. Soldiers who faced more intense and frequent stressors, such as direct combat, injuries, or the loss of fellow soldiers, were more likely to belong to the symptomatic-chronic group.
Those in the late-onset-increasing group also experienced more severe stressors during deployment. In contrast, the resilient group reported fewer deployment stressors. This suggests that a soldier’s ability to maintain mental health may depend on the level of stress experienced in combat. Less exposure to severe stressors seemed to contribute to better long-term mental health.
Deployment stressors, early-life trauma, and PTSD symptoms combine to create a complex picture of how depression evolves in military personnel. The study offers critical insights into the mental health challenges faced by soldiers. It emphasizes the need for long-term mental health care and support.
Limitations and Areas for Future Research
The study offers valuable insights but has limitations. Potential nonresponse bias and missing data may affect the findings’ generalizability. The longitudinal nature of the research presents challenges in maintaining consistent participation. Additionally, the focus on Dutch military personnel narrows the scope. It may not fully capture the experiences of soldiers from other countries or military contexts.
Future research could explore similar trajectories in different military populations. This would help determine if the patterns hold across various demographics. Investigating the effectiveness of early interventions, such as therapy or resilience training, could also offer valuable insights.
What Steps Can Be Taken to Support Military Personnel After Deployment?
These individuals often face unique challenges as they reintegrate into civilian life. Early intervention could be the way to prevent lasting psychological effects. Some important steps to take are:
- Mental Health Screenings: Mental health assessments should be conducted immediately after deployment. They should also take place at intervals in the following years. Early assessments help identify issues like depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Identifying these conditions early enables timely treatment.
- Access to Counseling and Therapy: Providing veterans with easy access to professional mental health services is necessary. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other effective therapies can assist in processing their experiences.
- Peer Support Networks: Peer support groups encourage veterans to connect with others. They offer a safe space to talk about challenges, reducing feelings of isolation.
- Education and Employment Assistance: Reintegration into the workforce or academic life can be difficult. Offering career counseling, job training programs, and educational benefits helps veterans find meaningful roles and adjust to civilian life.
- Physical Health Monitoring: Regular physical check-ups should accompany mental health care. These check-ups help identify conditions that may contribute to psychological issues. They can also reveal factors that might be exacerbating mental health challenges.
How Can the TMS Institute of Arizona Help?
Addressing long-term depressive symptoms in military personnel, particularly those with PTSD or early-life trauma, is important. Luckily, The TMS Institute of Arizona offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a non-invasive and FDA-approved therapy that has shown great promise in treating depression and PTSD.
It is a valuable option for veterans and active-duty soldiers. It can help reduce depressive symptoms by stimulating neural pathways in the brain associated with mood regulation.
Contact us at the TMS Institute of Arizona. Learn more about how our TMS therapy can support long-term mental health recovery.
References
Plas, X., Bruinsma, B., Lissa, van, Vermetten, E., Remko van Lutterveld, & Geuze, E. (2024). Long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms in deployed military personnel: A 10-year prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 354, 702–711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.139
Veterans’ employment Challenges Perceptions and experiences of transitioning from military to civilian life IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA. (2012). https://eoa.oregonstate.edu/sites/eoa.oregonstate.edu/files/veterans_employment_challenges.pdf
US. (2014). VA.gov | Veterans Affairs. Va.gov. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/epidemiology/studies/new-generation/ptsd.asp
Air Force Medical Service > Resources > Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder > PTSD Diagnosis. (2024). Af.mil. https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/Resources/Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder/PTSD-Diagnosis/
