By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, December 22, 2006

WASHINGTON - Troops with bipolar and psychotic disorders cannot deploy into Iraq or Afghanistan but those recovering from traumatic stress disorders still can, under new defense guidelines released this week.

Defense health officials said the new guidance is designed to clarify existing policy, not to replace any current practices dealing with deploying servicemembers with mental health issues.

“What we found was that [health officials] had some questions about exactly what the regulations were,” said Terry Jones, spokesman for Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. “These are much more specific guidelines to help them evaluate troops.”

The new policy guidance states that any condition that “limits the physical or psychological ability of a servicemember” must be evaluated before troops are sent downrange, since it could hurt both them and the mission.

It specifically states that troops with psychotic or bipolar disorders, and those taking anti-psychotic or anti-convulsant drugs, should not be deployed. Troops who suffer from any mental disorder for more than a year should also be considered “unsuitable” for military duty.

But servicemembers with “a psychiatric disorder in remission, or whose residual symptoms do not impair duty performance” may be considered for duty downrange. It lists post-traumatic stress disorder as a “treatable” problem.

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