Mental Health Condition

The Department of Defense has placed considerable emphasis on the identification of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and several mandatory screening tools are currently used by primary care clinicians to assist in this effort. PTSD has been shown to impair emotional and social functioning, and to affect physical health and quality of life. Previous research has identified that combat veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD are more likely to experience some form of sexual dysfunction. This article presents four clinical cases of Special Operations Forces (SOF) patients who experienced sexual problems in association with symptoms of PTSD. Mandatory screening forms may be able to identify a subset of patients with PTSD; however, the perceived stigma of PTSD may prevent SOF personnel from seeking appropriate care. On the other hand, the barriers to care for sexual dysfunction have been reduced in recent years. Young, healthy male combat veterans who seek treatment for sexual dysfunction should be questioned about symptoms of PTSD.