Objective: This article discusses issues regarding the usage of psychotropic medications during military deployments, with emphasis on Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Method: The role of psychotropic medications in the Army combat stress control doctrine is reviewed and compared with operational experiences of psychiatrists who have deployed to Iraq, Bosnia, and Egypt.
Results: Many issues regarding psychotropic medications experienced by deployed psychiatrists are not discussed in the Army combat stress control doctrine.
Conclusion: The advent of new psychotropic medications, the changes in the types of conflicts fought, and the role of National Guard and Reserve forces in current conflicts have all had an impact on the role and usage of psychotropic medications during military deployments.