https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Bohnert18TRIP

Bohnert, K. M., Sripada, R. K., Ganoczy, D., Walters, H., & Valenstein, M. (2018). Longitudinal patterns of PTSD symptom classes among US National Guard service members during reintegration. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 53(9), 911-920. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1542-x

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomology was examined among United States National Guard (NG) service members (N = 886) who recently returned from an overseas deployment. The researchers identified groups of service members based on the severity of their PTSD symptomology, a term known as PTSD classes. Membership within these PTSD classes were assessed over time, at 6 months and 12 months post-deployment. Changes in PTSD classes from time one to time two were examined as well as how multiple demographic characteristics, such as rank, were associated with PTSD class.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1542-x

Mental health

Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Navy

Guard
Veteran

Guard/Reserve member

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

Longitudinal study

Bohnert, Kipling M., Sripada, Rebecca K., Ganoczy, Dara, Walters, Heather, Valenstein, Marcia

Purpose  The purpose of this study was to identify posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom groups and assess their longitudinal progression during their first year of reintegration among United States (US) National Guard (NG) service members. Methods  A cohort of NG service members (n = 886) completed surveys at 6 and 12 months following their return from deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. Latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were used to empirically derive groups based on their PTSD symptoms and examine their longitudinal course, respectively. Results  The best fitting model at both assessments was the four-class model, comprising an asymptomatic class (6 months = 54%; 12 months = 55%), a mild symptom class with elevated hyperarousal symptoms (6 months = 22%; 12 months = 17%), a moderate symptom class (6 months = 15%; 12 months = 15%), and a severe symptom class (6 months = 10%; 12 months = 13%). Based on LTA, stability of class membership at the two assessments was 0.797 for the asymptomatic class, 0.453 for the mild class, 0.560 for the moderate class, and 0.580 for the severe class. Estimated transition probabilities were greater with respect to transitioning to less severe, rather than more severe, classes over time. Conclusions  The four latent PTSD classes were distinguished primarily by severity; however, the mild symptom class was characterized by higher levels of hyperarousal than other symptoms. Although the absolute number of individuals within classes remained fairly constant between 6 and 12 months, there was movement between severity classes. Most NG service members without symptoms continued to do well during the first year, with only an estimated 7% moving to the moderate or severe class.

Springer

Article
REACH Publication

VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, KMB
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, KMB
VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, RKS
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, RKS
VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, DG
VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, HW
VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, MV
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, MV