Are some Soldiers more susceptible to mental health disorders than others?
A7. There are many things that can contribute to susceptibility, including genetic history (whether there is a family history of mental health or substance abuse problems) and prior trauma. In general, those with prior psychiatric history may be more susceptible to deployment related mental health diagnosis. Data shows exposure to combat/firefights may be more associated with PTSD symptoms. MHAT II data showed that women are at about equal risk for mental health diagnosis as their male counterparts.
