https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-TCSmithEtAl2007

Smith, T. C., Ryan, M. A . K., Wingard, D. L., Slymen, D. J., Sallis, J. F., & Kritz-Silverstein, D. (2007). New onset and persistent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder self-reported after deployment and combat exposures: Prospective population based U.S. Military cohort. The British Medical Journal, 336(7640), 366-371. doi:10.1136/bmj.39430.638241.AE

Baseline and three-year follow-up data from Service members from all branches of the military were used to describe new onset and persistence of self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a large, population based military cohort. New onset self-reported PTSD symptoms were identified in 8-9% of Service members who reported combat exposures during their deployment, 1-2% of Service members who deployed but did not experience combat, and 2-3% of those who did not deploy.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39430.638241.AE

Deployment
Mental health

Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Navy

Active Duty

Active duty service member

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Empirical Study
Longitudinal Study
Prospective Study
Quantitative Study

Smith, Tyler C., Ryan, Margaret A. K., Wingard, Deborah L., Slymen, Donald J., Sallis, James F., Kritz-Silverstein, Donna

Objective--To describe new onset and persistence of self reported posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in a large population based military cohort, many of whom were deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Design--Prospective cohort analysis. Setting and participants--Survey enrollment data from the millennium cohort (July 2001 to June 2003) obtained before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Follow-up (June 2004 to February 2006) data on health outcomes collected from 50 184 participants. Main outcome measures--Self reported post-traumatic stress disorder as measured by the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist-civilian version using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria. Results--More than 40% of the cohort were deployed between 2001 and 2006; between baseline and follow-up, 24% deployed for the first time in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. New incidence rates of 10-13 cases of posttraumatic stress disorder per 1000 person years occurred in the millennium cohort. New onset self reported post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms or diagnosis were identified in 7.6-8.7% of deployers who reported combat exposures, 1.4-2.1% of deployers who did not report combat exposures, and 2.3-3.0% of non-deployers. Among those with self reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder at baseline, deployment did not affect persistence of symptoms. Conclusions--After adjustment for baseline characteristics, these prospective data indicate a threefold increase in new onset self reported post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms or diagnosis among deployed military personnel who reported combat exposures. The findings define the importance of posttraumatic stress disorder in this population and emphasize that specific combat exposures, rather than deployment itself, significantly affect the onset of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after deployment.

BMJ Publishing Group

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Defense Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, TCS
Department of Defense Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, MAKR
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, DLW
Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, DJS
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, JFS
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, DKS