U.S. ARMY - Pre-Existing Risks and Suicides

"New study links pre-existing risks to rise in Army suicides" PBS Newshour 3/4/2014

Excerpt

GWEN IFILL (Newshour):  As American involvement, including multiple deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, winds down, a recent and disturbing trend is drawing new attention: an increase in the rate of Army suicides.  And new research shows soldiers may be at greater risk even before they enlist.

Jeffrey Brown has more.

JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour):  The work was published in a series of papers in “James Marks Psychiatry” and done by independent researchers funded, in part, by the Army.

Among the key findings: One in 10 soldiers qualified for a diagnosis of what’s known as intermittent explosive disorder.  That rate is six times higher than in the civilian population.  Soldiers also came into the Army with a higher rate of behavioral disorders such as substance abuse or ADHD than civilians.

Dr. Ronald Kessler of Harvard Medical School is one of the principal investigators.  He joins us now.

ARTS - Need a Good Cry? Songs For You

"Need a Good Cry? These Songs Are for You" by Jeffrey Brown, PBS Newshour 8/10/2012

Excerpt

Everyone has their favorite sad song, but have you ever thought about the sad song as a whole category of music? Well, Adam Brent Houghtaling has, and he set down theories, profiles and a catalog of songs in the new book, "This Will End in Tears: The Miserabilist Guide to Music."

I spoke to him earlier this week.