Army: War affecting troops' mental health

WASHINGTON -- A survey of troops returning from the Iraq war found 30 percent had developed mental health problems three to four months after coming home, the Army's surgeon general said yesterday.

The problems include anxiety, depression, nightmares, anger, and an inability to concentrate, according to Lieutenant General Kevin Kiley and military medical officials. A smaller group, usually with more severe cases of these symptoms, is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 30 percent figure is in contrast to the 3 to 5 percent diagnosed with a significant mental health issue immediately after they leave the theater, according to Colonel Elspeth Ritchie, a military psychiatrist on Kiley's staff. A study of troops who were still in the combat zone in 2004 indicated 13 percent experienced significant mental health problems.