Fort Bragg paratroopers returning from Iraq suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder at almost the same rate as Vietnam War veterans, according to a military survey.

The survey of about 1,300 paratroopers from the 2nd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division 2nd Brigade that have returned from a year of service found 17.4 percent of soldiers have post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. The 3,000-soldier brigade was part of the invasion force and spent most of its time in Baghdad.

The numbers are similar to those published in a New England Journal of Medicine study that found that 16 percent of Iraq veterans reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression or severe anxiety.

"The numbers are looking more and more like Vietnam," said Capt. Jill Breitbach, chief of psychology services for the 82nd.

A national study of Vietnam veterans determined in 1988 that the prevalence of PTSD was about 15 percent at that time. In all, 30 percent had experienced the disorder at some point since returning home.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include nightmares, extreme anxiety, inappropriate anger, and feelings of disconnection from family and friends. Headaches, dizziness, chest pain and anxiety attacks also are common.

Crowds, stoplights or even Wal-Mart shopping bags can trigger anxiety, Breitbach said.

The Wal-Mart bags resemble those used by insurgents in Iraq to hide roadside bombs. Stopping at a light in Iraq could lead to an ambush, so it is standard for military convoys to speed through intersections with little regard for traffic lights.

Another survey showed that paratroopers of the 3rd Brigade, which spent eight months in Iraq, suffer from stress disorder. The survey of 1,900 soldiers found that about 9.6 percent had symptoms of the disorder, putting them in line with rates from the general population.

The numbers don't represent diagnoses by doctors, Breitbach said.

The surveys were distributed to paratroopers after they had been home for three months.

The survey indicates soldiers also suffer from depression and anxiety.

Fort Bragg doctors have received training on treating combat stress, and paratroopers take part in group and individual counseling sessions to help them cope, Breitbach said. "You dictate how you cope with things," she said.

It's important that soldiers get help, she said. "If you let it fester, you start losing soldiers. They are not crazy. They are just having trouble adjusting."

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