PORTLAND (AP) – A survey completed anonymously by Maine Army National Guard troops who served in Iraq found many reporting mental health problems, along with significant stress in relating with family and friends and problems at work.

The survey found that more than one-third of Iraq veterans reported “hyperarousal” symptoms associated with post traumatic stress disorder and about one-fourth reported significant symptoms of depression.

The government-funded study involved 532 Guard members, of whom 292 served in Iraq. Most of the Iraq veterans had been home for a year before completing the survey. The results were released by Community Counseling Center, a private, nonprofit agency that provides behavioral health and family services in Maine.

Among the various readjustment challenges facing returnees from Iraq was stress in relationships with partners and children.

“In addition to having more interpersonal conflict, many Iraq veterans indicated that they felt disconnected or detached from loved ones and civilian friends. They frequently reported not having fun in life and not being able to relax,” the study found.

Although roughly one-third of the Iraq veterans said they were interested in receiving help, very few actually sought it, the study said.

Nearly 90 percent of Maine Guard troops have been deployed to Iraq, and there have been anecdotal reports suggesting that some veterans are suffering readjustment problems.

Guard members deployed to other locations reported significant but less severe readjustment issues consistent with their lower levels of exposure to combat, the study found. More than 75 percent of the Iraq veterans said they had been exposed to combat patrols or other life-threatening situations.