The case for treating depression in military spouses

Area of Science:

• Military and Veterans' Health
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Current military operations, including Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), lead to increased operational tempo.
• This tempo places significant strain on military families, with studies indicating high rates of depression among spouses of deployed service members.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a rationale for targeting depression in military spouses.
• To examine deployment cycle stressors contributing to spousal depression.
• To outline the effects of spousal depression on service members and children.

Main Methods:

• This is a review article.
• It synthesizes existing research on military spouse depression.
• It discusses current mental health services and treatment adaptations.

Main Results:

• Deployment stressors are linked to increased depression rates in military spouses.
• Spousal depression negatively impacts the mental health of service members and children.
• Existing mental health services face barriers to access for military spouses.

Conclusions:

• Targeting depression in military spouses is crucial.
• Adaptation of mental health treatments is needed to address unique military family circumstances.
• Addressing spousal depression can improve overall family well-being.