American troops in Baghdad face a myriad of challenges -- roadside bombs, long hours, high temperatures and uncertainty about who they are fighting.
Soldiers' initial deployments have been extended and many are now spending over 15 months on active duty in Iraq.
In July, a presidential commission found that post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of varying degrees affects 12 percent to 20 percent of returnees from Iraq and 6 percent to 11 percent of returnees from Afghanistan. To date, 52,375 returnees have been seen in the Department of Veterans Affairs for PTSD symptoms, according to the report.
Two professionals who work with combat trauma patients answered your questions.
Former Lt. Commander Heidi Kraft was deployed in Iraq from February to September 2004. She was in charge of the mental health care of 10,000 Marines. Now, she is a practicing clinical psychologist and author of up the upcoming memoir, "Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital."
Former Army Maj. Brian Butler is a licensed professional counselor affiliated with Pike Peak Behavior Health Group in Colorado Springs, Colo. He was on active duty in the Army from 1985 to 1992 and was deployed during Desert Storm. He works with soldiers back from Iraq.
