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Published Online: 1 December 2014

Iraq Dreams: A Novel

Roger Peele, M.D., and Lidia Carnota-Cohen, M.D.Authors Info & Affiliations

Based on: by Gerard R. D’Alessio; Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse, 2014, 222 pages

Publication: Psychiatric Services

Volume 65, Number 12

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.651215

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The protagonist of this novel is Rick Garcia, army reservist and an engineer in his civilian life. Rick is a runner, having become a track star in his teens to overcome his natural shyness and the prejudices he faced as a Mexican–Native American. He was a model officer who rose to the grade of Colonel. Rick is married, has two children, and had built a successful engineering business before he was deployed and served three tours of duty in Iraq.

Rick’s marriage and his business are greatly strained after his return. We meet him when he is recovering from severe injuries and amputation of his right leg. He had heroically undertaken a dangerous mission and led his Jeep over a landmine. His driver didn’t survive the explosion.

Shortly after the surgery, he receives a letter from his wife, written before she was aware of his amputation. In it she states that she plans to divorce him and that she has moved with their children to her mother’s home in another part of the country. Simultaneously, Rick’s business is closing down, and his accountant advises him to declare bankruptcy.

While Rick sees his world crumbling, going from athlete to disabled, from independent to dependent, and from commander to powerless, he suffers excruciating pain and recurrent distressing dreams and flashbacks of the war and the explosion. The flashbacks are mixed up with delirium caused by the strong dose of opioids he pumps to deal with both physical and emotional pain. The book’s title might better be Iraq Nightmares or Iraq Sleep Terrors.

The author, a psychologist who was in the army for 37 years, captures the military culture well in a fast-moving book. The story helps make the reader aware of the impact of the war on the life of military personnel and their families.

About one in 12 soldiers wounded in Iraq have lost a limb (1). This novel helps us understand why, in addition to posttraumatic stress disorder, there is high prevalence of depression and substance use and frequent suicide. This book is an excellent resource for better understanding some of the issues of our wounded veterans.

Acknowledgments

The reviewers report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Reference

Starnes BW, Beekley AC, Sebesta JA, et al: Extremity vascular injuries on the battlefield: tips for surgeons deploying to war. Journal of Trauma 60:432–442, 2006

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Cover: Two Children Watching the Clouds in a Field, by Elizabeth Shippen Green. © Copyright 2014 National Museum of American Illustration™, Newport, RI. Photos courtesy Archives of the American Illustrators Gallery™, New York City.

Psychiatric Services

Volume 65 • Number 12 • December 01, 2014

Pages: e6

Editor: Jeffrey L. Geller, M.D., M.P.H.

History

Published online: 1 December 2014

Published in print: December 01, 2014

Authors

Details

Roger Peele, M.D.

Dr. Peele and Dr. Carnota-Cohen are with Behavioral Health and Crises Services, Montgomery County, Maryland.

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Lidia Carnota-Cohen, M.D.

Dr. Peele and Dr. Carnota-Cohen are with Behavioral Health and Crises Services, Montgomery County, Maryland.

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Iraq Dreams: A Novel

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