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The soldiers returning from the war in Iraq may be well physically, however, most people who survived the war are at risk of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).

PTSD is characterised by the development of a long-lasting anxiety response following a traumatic or catastrophic event.  Typically individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event such as actual or threatened death, serious injury to oneself or another person, or a threat to the personal intergrity of oneself or others.  The individual’s response involves helplessness, intense fear, or horror. 

PTSD usually develops within 3-6 months of the traumatic events and involves:

• nightmares and disturbed sleep
• images, dreams, or flashbacks of the traumatic event
• avoidance of cues which act as reminders of the traumatic event
• amnesia about important aspects of the traumatic event
• intense arousal and anxiety on exposure to trauma cues
• depressed or irritable mood
• social withdrawal
• concentration and memory difficulties
• being easily startled

The typical traumatic events include: violent assault (eg.  sexual or physical assault or mugging); torture, being taken hostage, kidnapped, or held as a prisoner or war; terrorist attacks; severe car accidents; being victims of natural or man-made disasters; being diagnosed (or having a loved one diagnosed) with life-threatening illness; witnessing or learning about the unexpected death or injury of another person.

The National Center for PTSD has more information for sufferers.