Pentagon figures show sharp jump in post-traumatic stress

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The number of U.S. military personnel diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder jumped nearly 50 percent in 2007, new statistics show.

The statistics show there were nearly 14,000 cases diagnosed from all the services in 2007, compared to around 9,500 cases in 2006. Most of those cases were from the Army, which provides the bulk of American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Army reported 10,049 cases in 2007, compared to 6,876 cases in 2006. The Marine Corps reported another 2,114 cases in 2007, compared to 1,366 cases in 2006.

The Army has said the numbers reflect an increased effort by the Pentagon to get troops to seek counseling when they feel they need it, as well as better record-keeping that began in 2004. But military officials have long acknowledged the numbers could be significantly higher if they account for cases not reported because many troops still are leery of the stigma attached to mental heath issues.