DST is conducting research into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seeking to improve treatment for soldiers suffering from the illness.
In 2010, the ADF estimated the 12-month prevalence of mental disorders as 22% of the 50,049 ADF population sample. Among those, 6196 were Army personnel – that’s 24.4% of the total Army of 25,356.
PTSD is a significant issue among many returned service personnel in Australian and coalition forces.
Three years ago, the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicated that of the 1.64 million service members who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq, 20%, or 328,000, were experiencing depression, anxiety, stress of PTSD.
These figures concerned Defence scientist Dr Helen Cartledge who is the Director Science Programs for the Army, so she decided to teamed up with Carolyn Mountford, a professor at the University of Newcastle to further investigate PTSD and blast injury.
In turn, a research proposal was raised and jointly funded by a division of the US department of Defense and DST. Under the bilateral agreement, the project has achieved significant early results.
“The research is providing new insight into how our brain chemistry operates, as well as changes with degeneration and disease,” Dr Cartledge says.
“Scientists now can see noticeable differences between the healthy brain and that of a person with PTSD.”
The study has evaluated its potential for improving the mental health of soldiers in Australia.
“The outcomes of this research are now becoming available and have led to discussions in Canberra and Washington on how this technology can best be made available to Australian and US armed forces,” Dr Cartledge explains.
“The future use of this technology in the military is aimed at better managing the heath of ADF personnel.”
“The earlier chemical changes in the brain are identified, the better the potential for a full recovery. This could also assist the effectiveness of ADF training programs.”
The project, which aims to complete its pilot study by the end of January 2017, contributes to Army’s modernisation effort in the field of human performance. A larger study is planned to follow.
“From this research, it is hoped it will be possible to provide an early diagnosis for mental health issues and assist with return to duty decisions,” Dr Cartledge concludes.