The Influence of Combat and Interpersonal Trauma on PTSD, depression, and Alcohol Misuse in U.S. Gulf War and OEF/OIF Women Veterans

Citation:

Hassija, Christina M., Matthew Jakupcak, Shira Maguen, and Jillian C. Shipherd. 2012. “The Influence of Combat and Interpersonal Trauma on PTSD, Depression, and Alcohol Misuse in U.S. Gulf War and OEF/OIF Women Veterans.” Journal of Traumatic Stress 25 (2): 216–19. doi:10.1002/jts.21686.

Authors: Christina M. Hassija, Matthew Jakupcak, Shira Maguen, Jillian C. Shipherd

Abstract:

The present study evaluated the impact of combat and interpersonal trauma exposure in a sample of 115 U.S. women veterans from Gulf War I and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars on 3 postdeployment trauma-related mental health outcomes: posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PSS), depressive symptom severity (DSS), and alcohol misuse. Patients presenting for healthcare services at a Veterans Affairs postdeployment health specialty clinic completed screening questionnaires that assessed combat exposure, lifetime interpersonal trauma history of childhood neglect, physical, or sexual abuse, and adult sexual and physical assault. In a regression model, combat exposure was the only significant independent variable associated with PSS, DSS, and alcohol misuse (β = .42, .27 and B = 1.58, respectively) even after adding lifetime interpersonal assault exposure to the model. Results highlight the negative effects of combat exposure on treatment-seeking women veterans' postdeployment mental health. Incorporating combat exposure into routine screening procedures for Gulf War and Iraq and Afghanistan war women veterans can aid in mental health treatment planning.

Topics: Armed Conflict, Combatants, Female Combatants, Gender, Women, Health, Mental Health, PTSD, Military Forces & Armed Groups Regions: MENA, Americas, North America, Asia, Middle East, South Asia Countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, United States of America

Year: 2012