PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AND PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSES IN OPERATION DESERT-STORM TROOPS SERVING GRAVES REGISTRATION DUTY

This clinical report describes symptoms of psychological and physical distress an psychiatric disorders in 24 Army Reservists who served war zone graves registration duty in support of Operation Desert Storm. T roops underwent comprehensive assessment for evidence of psychopatholo gy that might be associated with war zone duty as one component of a d ebriefing protocol scheduled during regular drill exercises eight mont hs after their return to the United States Troops endorsed items sugge stive of high war zone stress exposure, common symptoms of anxiety, an ger, and depression, and multiple health and somatic concerns. Almost half of the sample met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, an d diagnosis of this disorder was strongly associated with evidence of depressive and substance abuse disorders. The gruesome aspects of body recovery and identification in a war zone setting were cited as stres sor elements of significant negative impact.