In a study of "more than 250,000 Army wives, of which two-thirds had husbands who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2006," researchers from RTI International found that "wives of soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan between one and 11 months had an 18% higher rate of suffering from depression than those whose husbands did not go to war." In deployments lasting "11 months or longer," soldiers' "wives had a 24% higher rate of suffering from depression."

HealthDay (1/13, Thomas) reported, "Each phase of a deployment can cause stress that could contribute to mental health problems," study author Alyssa Mansfield, PhD, MPH, "said. Before the deployment, there's anxiety as women prepare themselves and their children for a long absence," while "during deployment, women take on added responsibilities as sole caretaker for their home and children, while worrying their husband will be killed or injured." The AP (1/14, Johnson) also mentions the study.

Related Links:

- Army wives with deployed husbands suffer higher mental health issues," Greg Zoroya, USA Today, January 13, 2010.

- Deployment Takes Toll on Army Wives," Jennifer Thomas, HealthDay, January 13, 2010.