Prevalence and characteristics of military malingering.

The authors' principle objective was determining the prevalence and characteristics of medical malingering in the military. The authors accessed an electronic database used by the Department of Defense to monitor and manage military health care activities worldwide. The authors searched the database from 2006 to 2011 in the Northern Regional Medical Command for all instances where a health care provider, consequent to an outpatient medical visit, diagnosed malingering, factitious disorder with psychological symptoms, or factitious disorder with physical symptoms.

Effectiveness of light therapy for depression among active duty service members: A nonrandomized controlled pilot trial.

Objective: The authors investigated the potential effectiveness of light therapy as an augmentation treatment for depression among active duty service members.

Design: This pilot study recruited active duty service members deployed to an area of combat operations. Enrollment was offered to service members scoring 50 or greater on the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.

Efficacy of biofeedback for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Objective: The authors investigated the potential effectiveness of biofeedback as a complementary treatment for PTSD.

Design: This exploratory study used heart variability biofeedback and determined its efficacy in treating PTSD through the use of two rating instruments, The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL)-Military version and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Active duty service members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan were alternatively assigned to a treatment as usual control group and treatment as usual with the addition of biofeedback.

Improvement in cerebral function with treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are signature illnesses of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but current diagnostic and therapeutic measures for these conditions are suboptimal. In our study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to try to differentiate military service members with: PTSD and mTBI, PTSD alone, mTBI alone, and neither PTSD nor mTBI. Those with PTSD are then randomized to virtual reality exposure therapy or imaginal exposure.