Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to poor combat health

Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to poor combat health

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Friday, 17, Apr 2009 07:30

Military personnel who enter into combat in poor health are more vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), research shows.

Scientists claim those with diminished mental or physical health before combat exposure are at a higher risk of developing the condition after deployment.

A team of US researchers studied 5,410 military servicemen and women who were free from PTSD symptoms and diagnosis.

A series of questionnaires were then used to collect data on the mental and physical health of each individual before and after combat exposure. Higher scores on the questionnaires reflected more favourable health status.

The first questionnaire was completed between 2001 and 2003, before any of the participants had been exposed to combat. The second questionnaire was completed between 2004 and 2006, after participants had their first combat deployment in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Of the 5,410 participants, 395 (7.3 per cent) had new-onset PTSD symptoms or diagnosis at the time of follow-up. After adjusting for all other variables, individuals with the lowest baseline mental or physical health scores had two to three times the risk of developing symptoms or a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder by follow-up compared with those with higher scores.

Of those with new onset symptoms or diagnosis, 58 per cent of cases occurred among those with the lowest health scores at the start of the study. These participants were more likely to be female, younger, less educated, not married, current smokers, problem drinkers, and enlisted.

The authors claim, while acknowledging some limitations, their study shows diminished mental or physical health status before combat deployment is strongly associated with an increased risk of PTSD after deployment.