Combat Experiences Predict Postdeployment Symptoms in U.S. Army Combat Medics

U.S. Army combat medics who were three months postdeployment reported higher prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and aggressive behaviors than did medics who had never been deployed to a combat zone. Combat experiences were then separated into six categories: killing, fighting, threat to oneself, death and injury of others, providing aid to the wounded, and saving a life. After controlling for socially desirable response bias, providing aid and threat to oneself predicted post-traumatic stress; providing aid predicted depression; and reports of killing predicted aggressive behaviors in postdeployed medics. Despite their noncombatant status and primary role as health care providers, medics report behavioral health symptoms in association with combat experiences.