Iraq War Research Initiatives

Supporting our Military through Research

The current war displays some characteristics that make it uniquely difficult for those who are involved: a blurry distinction between "front lines" and "rear echelon" that reduces the ability to escape high-stress situations; extended or even indefinite tours of duty; the heavy involvement of reservists, many of whom are being pulled away from established careers and young families. With these unusual circumstances added to the normal stresses of war, the potential for traumatic stress-related disorders is exacerbated.

Several studies are underway to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments that might be used after traumatic wartime experiences. One such intervention involves returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who developed PTSD and who may also be suffering from brain injury. Other relevant projects are listed below.

• The Deployment Risk and Resiliency Inventory is a widely used set of scales that assess deployment risk and resilience factors and the impact of military deployment. The previous success of these scales has led to a project to evaluate and update these scales to enhance their applicability for use with veterans of the current conflicts.
• A number of collaborative studies with DoD are examining stress-related deficits in cognitive functioning and barriers to mental health care among service members with PTSD symptoms.
• One study examines psychological and social factors that contribute to delay in seeking mental health care by new veterans.
• Some exciting findings have come out of a laboratory study of fear conditioning, a project undertaken in collaboration with Fort Drum in New York.
• A clinical trial has been initiated to test whether the use of a drug that enhances fear reduction in the laboratory, D-cycloserine, can increase the impact of exposure therapy.
• The DESTRESS study examines the efficacy of a therapist-assisted Internet-based self-management regimen for recent returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan and other victims of mass violence. This service, launched in FY 2006, is especially aimed at individuals who are reluctant to seek help through regular mental health channels.
• The DESTRESS study examines the efficacy of a therapist-assisted Internet-based self-management regimen for recent returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan and other victims of mass violence. This service, launched in FY 2006, is especially aimed at individuals who are reluctant to seek help through regular mental health channels.
• RESPECT-PTSD is a multi-site project that is aimed at enhancing the management of PTSD in VA primary care settings. It compares the usual PTSD treatment to a model that has proven useful in the treatment of depression.
• One clinical trial is examining the efficacy of using virtual reality to augment exposure therapy, a cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD.
• A study is testing the effectiveness of providing telephone monitoring to PTSD patients to improve retention in aftercare, improve patient functioning, and reduce psychiatric re-hospitalization, as well as to reduce costs of care.