Use of the Air Force Post-Deployment Health Reassessment for the Identification of Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Public Health Implications for Suicide Prevention

A sample of Active, Reserve, and National Guard Airmen (N = 58,242) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) survey, designed to identify military members at risk for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The survey was administered 90 to 180 days post deployment. Results indicate that the Post-Deployment Health Reassessment survey might be used to identify sub-acute behavioral health concerns that might not have been otherwise diagnosed, potentially reducing barriers to care among Airmen following deployment and thereby may account for lower suicide rates in this population.