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Enemy combat tactics may increase PTSD risk

Recent findings showed certain enemy combat tactics significantly increased risk for PTSD among male veterans of the Iraqi war, while risk among female veterans was not affected.

“Studies comparing rates of PTSD across different conflicts indicate that the use of asymmetric or guerilla-style tactics by enemy fighters may result in higher rates of PTSD among U.S. military personnel than the use of symmetric tactics, which mirror tactics used by U.S. forces,” according to researchers.

To assess PTSD risk in relation to combat tactics, researchers evaluated 738 veterans deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which there were three distinct phases of tactics. Clinician interviews and self-reports were conducted.

Male veterans deployed during the phase that used asymmetric tactics were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with PTSD, compared with those deployed during the other two phases.

This association remained when adjusting for extent of combat exposure, demographics and other deployment-related PTSD risk factors.

Rates of PTSD did not differ between phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom among female veterans.

“The nature of combat (specifically, asymmetric enemy tactics) may be a risk factor for the development of PTSD among males. Factors other than enemy tactics may be more important to the development of PTSD among females,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.