Sources of moral injury among war veterans: A qualitative evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Service members deployed to war are at risk for moral injury, but the potential sources of moral injury are poorly understood. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the types of events that veterans perceive as morally injurious and to use those events to develop a categorization scheme for combat-related morally injurious events. METHOD: Six focus groups with US war veterans were conducted. RESULTS: Analysis based on Grounded Theory yielded two categories (and eight subcategories) of events that putatively cause moral injury. The two categories were defined by the focal attribution of responsibility for the event: Personal Responsibility (veteran's reported distress is related to his own behavior) versus Responsibility of Others (veteran's distress is related to actions taken by others). Examples of each type of morally injurious event are provided. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for the further development of the moral injury construct and treatment are discussed.

Impact of Killing in War: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the effectiveness of Impact of Killing (IOK), a novel, cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) aimed at reducing mental health symptoms and functional impairment. METHOD: Participants were 33 combat Veterans with a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis who had completed trauma-focused psychotherapy and reported distress regarding killing or feeling responsible for the deaths of others in war. Veterans were randomized to either IOK treatment or a 6-week waitlist condition, after which Veterans could receive IOK. IOK is a 6- to 8-session, weekly, individual, CBT, lasting 60-90 minutes, and focused on key themes, including physiology of killing responses, moral injury, self-forgiveness, spirituality, making amends, and improved functioning. RESULTS: We found that compared to controls (N = 16), the IOK group (N = 17) experienced a significant improvement in PTSD symptoms, general psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life functional measures. Veterans who received IOK reported that the treatment was acceptable and feasible. CONCLUSION: These results provide preliminary evidence that Veterans can benefit from a treatment focused on the impact of killing after initial trauma therapy.

Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and cardiovascular risk factors in U.S. adults.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor health yet, we know little about how distinct patterns of ACE types are associated with cardiovascular (cardiovascular (CVD)) risk factors. The current study 1) examined associations of latent ACE classes with modifiable CVD risk factors including high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, high triglycerides, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, and lifetime depression; and 2) examined the impact of socioeconomic status-related (SES) factors on these relationships. Using a cross-sectional analysis of the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (n = 36,309) data, four latent classes of ACEs were previously identified: 1) low adversity, 2) primarily household dysfunction, 3) primarily maltreatment, and 4) multiple adversity types. We examined the association of these classes with CVD risk factors in adulthood and subsequently, the same model accounting for SES-related factors. Tobacco smoking, overweight/obesity, and lifetime depression were each associated with higher odds of being in classes 2, 3, and 4 than class 1, respectively. These relationships held after adjusting for SES-related factors. Class 4 was associated with the most CVD risk factors, including high triglycerides and high cholesterol after controlling for SES-related factors. The consistent associations between tobacco smoking, overweight/obesity, and lifetime depression with each adverse ACE profile, even after controlling for SES, suggest behavioural CVD prevention programs should target these CVD risk factors simultaneously.

Training Staff Across the Veterans Affairs Health Care System to Use Mobile Mental Health Apps: A National Quality Improvement Project.

BACKGROUND: The National Center for PTSD, within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has developed a suite of free, publicly available, evidence-informed apps that can reach an increasing number of veterans and bridge gaps in care by providing resources to those who are not engaged in mental health treatment. To expand the reach of these apps, staff across VA service lines learned about these apps, their features and limitations, and how to introduce them to veterans. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop, disseminate, and evaluate a training for multidisciplinary staff as part of a national quality improvement project to increase the reach of mobile mental health apps as a resource for veterans. METHODS: Sites from all of VA's 18 geographic regions enrolled in this project. At each site, a minimum of 25 VA staff members who had direct contact with veterans, including staff from the mental health service line and all other service lines, were recruited to participate. Training included a 3-hour multidisciplinary core module, and a 1-hour clinical integration module designed specifically for mental health clinicians. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trainings were adapted to a live, web-based format. Pre- and posttraining surveys assessed program reach (ie, participants enrolled per site), satisfaction, and effectiveness of the training as measured by changes in knowledge, basic skills, and behavioral intentions to use apps with veterans. RESULTS: A total of 1110 participants representing 34 disciplines at 19 VA sites completed the training. Overall, 67% (743/1109) of participants were mental health staff members. Sites averaged 58.4 participants (SD 36.49, median [IQR] 51). Most (961/1024, 93.85%) participants were satisfied with the training and reported that they (941/1018, 92.44%) would recommend it to others. App knowledge scores significantly increased from pretraining (mean 80.8% correct, SD 15.77%) to posttraining (mean 91.1% correct, SD 9.57%; P<.001). At posttraining, participants also reported greater confidence in their ability to show veterans how to download (z=-13.86; P<.001) and use VA mental health apps (z=-15.13; P<.001). There was near universal endorsement by staff for their intentions to recommend apps to veterans as well as their ability to think of at least one specific veteran to whom they could recommend an app. Staff also reported a strong motivation to encourage other VA staff to share apps with veterans. CONCLUSIONS: The training far exceeded the initial goals for staff recruitment and training for all three metrics. Overall, 33% (366/1109) of participants came from service lines outside of mental health, indicating the feasibility of introducing these mental health resources during medical appointments and in other contexts.

Killing in combat may be independently associated with suicidal ideation.

BACKGROUND: The United States military has lost more troops to suicide than to combat for the second year in a row and better understanding combat-related risk factors for suicide is critical. We examined the association of killing and suicide among war veterans after accounting for PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders. METHODS: We utilized a cross-sectional, retrospective, nationally representative sample of Vietnam veterans from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). In order to perform a more in depth analysis, we utilized a subsample of these data, the NVVRS Clinical Interview Sample (CIS), which is representative of 1.3 million veterans who were eligible for the clinical interview by virtue of living in proximity to an interview site, located within 28 standard metropolitan regions throughout the United States. RESULTS: Veterans who had higher killing experiences had twice the odds of suicidal ideation, compared to those with lower or no killing experiences (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.07-3.67), even after adjusting for demographic variables, PTSD, depression, substance use disorders, and adjusted combat exposure. PTSD (OR = 3.42, 95% CI = 1.09-10.73), depression (OR = 11.49, 95% CI = 2.12-62.38), and substance use disorders (OR = 3.98, 95% CI = 1.01-15.60) were each associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation. Endorsement of suicide attempts was most strongly associated with PTSD (OR = 5.52, 95% CI = 1.21-25.29). CONCLUSIONS: Killing experiences are not routinely examined when assessing suicide risk. Our findings have important implications for conducting suicide risk assessments in veterans of war. Depression and Anxiety 00:1-6, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Adverse childhood experiences, mental health, and relationship satisfaction in military couples.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been found to influence one's own mental health and relationship satisfaction in adulthood; however, the association between one's own ACEs and their partner's individual and relationship functioning has not been explored. Veterans (n = 103) and their significant others (S-O; total N = 206) completed assessments on ACEs, depression, relationship satisfaction, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom severity as part of a baseline assessment in a treatment outcome study for veterans with PTSD and their S-Os. Actor Partner Interdependence Moderation Modeling (APIMoM) was conducted. Higher ACE score was positively related to PTSD for all participants. Female S-O's ACE score was positively related to their own depression, and male S-Os reported higher depression and lower relationship satisfaction when their partners reported a higher ACE score. Surprisingly, female veterans experienced higher relationship satisfaction when their S-Os reported a higher ACE score. ACEs are related differently to one's own and one's partner's mental health and relationship satisfaction and should be assessed when conducting couple's interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Latent Class Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Relationship to Veteran Status and Sex in the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave III.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor psychosocial and health outcomes in adulthood. Veterans and females experience ACEs disproportionately. A greater understanding of this disparity may be achieved by examining the relationship between distinct ACE patterns and these demographic characteristics. Therefore, this study examined distinct ACE patterns and their association with Veteran status, sex, and other demographics in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults to inform interventions tailored to ACE patterns experienced by specific groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted with data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, a nationally representative structured diagnostic interview conducted from 2012-2013. The target population was the noninstitutionalized adult population living in the USA. The analytic sample was 36,190 (mean age 46.5 years; 48.1% male). Of these participants, 3,111 were Veterans. Data were analyzed between September 2020 and January 2021. RESULTS: Latent class analysis revealed a four-class solution: (1) "Low adversity" (75.3%); (2) "Primarily household dysfunction" (9.0%); (3) "Primarily maltreatment" (10.7%); and (4) "Multiple adversity types" (5.1%). Compared to "Low adversity," members in the other classes were more likely to be Veterans (odds ratio (OR)C2vC1 = 1.33, ORC3vC1 = 1.55, ORC4vC1 = 1.98) and female (ORC2vC1 = 1.58, ORC3vC1 = 1.22, ORC4vC1 = 1.65). While lower education and income were also related to higher adversity class membership, Veteran status and sex were the strongest predictors, even when controlling for education and income. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct and meaningful patterns of ACEs identified in this study highlight the need for routine ACE screenings in Veterans and females. As in the current study, operationalizing and clustering ACEs can inform screening measures and trauma-informed interventions in line with personalized medicine. Future work can test if classes are differentially associated with health outcomes.

Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Oral Health Among Women in the United States: Findings From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

It is well established that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) negatively impact physical and mental health. There is a paucity of research examining the impact of ACEs on oral health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to better understand how ACEs may impact oral health utilizing a nationally representative sample of females. Data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were utilized. The sample comprised 36,249 females. Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between multiple forms of ACEs and oral health, mental health, smoking, and health-related quality of life. Logistic regression models were generated for the outcomes of interest: last dental cleaning, significant tooth loss, smoking, and health-related quality of life. Post-hoc analyses were conducted to examine whether smoking and dental cleaning moderated the relationship between ACEs and significant tooth loss. All ACE categories were significantly associated with poor health-related quality of life, being a current or former smoker, last dental cleaning >1 year, and significant tooth loss even after adjusting for demographic variables. Last dental cleaning and being a current or former smoker moderated the relationship between ACEs and significant tooth loss. This study affirms other findings that women with a history of ACEs were more likely to engage in health-risk behaviors, specifically cigarette smoking, which has been strongly associated with ACEs. These findings underscore the importance of including oral health in future studies given it has implications for disease development. Furthermore, dental visits may provide a window of opportunity for trauma-informed care.

Gender differences in mental health diagnoses among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans enrolled in veterans affairs health care.

OBJECTIVES: We examined gender differences in sociodemographic, military service, and mental health characteristics among Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans. We evaluated associations between these sociodemographic and service characteristics and depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses. METHODS: In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, we used univariate descriptive statistics and log binominal regression analyses of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data on 329 049 OEF and OIF veterans seeking VA health care from April 1, 2002, through March 31, 2008. RESULTS: Female veterans were younger and more likely to be Black and to receive depression diagnoses than were male veterans, who were more frequently diagnosed with PTSD and alcohol use disorders. Older age was associated with a higher prevalence of PTSD and depression diagnoses among women but not among men. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of gender differences among OEF and OIF veterans seeking health care at the VA will facilitate more targeted prevention and treatment services for these newly returning veterans.

Relationships among adverse childhood experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters, and health in women veterans.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase risk for negative health outcomes. The goal of this study was to examine the relationships among cumulative ACEs, ACEs type, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, PTSD symptom clusters, and physical health symptoms in a sample of women veterans (N = 76). Bivariate correlations were used to determine which ACE domains were associated with PTSD and physical health symptoms. Follow-up linear regressions indicated cumulative ACEs were significantly associated with total PTSD symptoms. Cumulative ACEs were also significantly associated with the avoidance and hyperarousal symptom clusters, but not the re-experiencing symptom cluster. Total PTSD symptoms were significantly related to physical health symptoms. Of the three symptom clusters, only hyperarousal was significantly associated with physical health symptoms. Cross-sectional mediation analyses indicated the total and direct effects of ACEs on physical health were not significant. However, the indirect effect through PTSD was significant (b = 0.46, [95% CI: 0.02, 0.91]), as well as through the avoidance (b = 0.47, [95% CI: 0.06, 0.90]), and hyperarousal symptom clusters (b = 0.56, [95% CI: 0.11, 1.04]). This study highlights the potential impact of ACEs on PTSD symptoms and physical health and suggests that hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD, may play a potential role in the development of physical health problems.

PTSD treatment response and quality of life in women with childhood trauma histories.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood trauma is associated with greater psychological problems and poorer quality of life (QOL). This study evaluates the effect of multiple types of childhood trauma on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and QOL following cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Understanding how the breadth of traumatic experiences in childhood can influence psychosocial treatment outcomes may help to identify the unique needs of this population. METHOD: This secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial delivering CPT to civilian (n = 105) and veteran women (n = 21) with PTSD used linear regressions to examine relationships between the number of unique types of childhood trauma, PTSD, and QOL before and after treatment. Models controlled for demographic information, adult trauma, and pretreatment PTSD, depression, and QOL scores. RESULTS: More types of childhood trauma predicted pretreatment PTSD symptoms (B = 1.98, p = .02) but not QOL (B = -.018, p = .18). Significant reductions in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV-TR score, t(302) = 10.32, p < .001, and QOL, t(309) = -4.06, p < .001, were reported after treatment; number of traumatic event types was not predictive of QOL change (B = .01, p = .957). Women with more types of trauma reported significantly less PTSD symptom reduction when compared with those with one type (B = 3.12, p = .042). CONCLUSION: Women who experienced a broader range of childhood trauma may experience diminished PTSD symptom reduction following CPT in comparison with women with less exposure. On average, all women, regardless of trauma history, reported small improvements in QOL. Clinical considerations are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

A double-blind randomized trial of mood stabilizer augmentation using lamotrigine and valproate for patients with schizophrenia who are stabilized and partially responsive.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of mood stabilizer augmentation of an antipsychotic for patients with schizophrenia who are both stabilized and partially responsive. METHOD: Adult patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were enrolled in a 12-week, double-blind randomized trial. Patients were stabilized on an antipsychotic, and dose remained constant. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 adjunctive treatments: (1) with lamotrigine, (2) with divalproex sodium, or (3) with placebo. Efficacy assessments included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, a Demoralization Scale, and the Clinical Global Impression severity and improvement scores. The Lehman quality of life improvement scale was used to assess quality of life and social functioning. Ratings were done at each study visit, including the last visit when they had been tapered off the adjunctive treatment. RESULTS: There were no differences in global outcomes, symptoms, quality of life, or demoralization among the 3 groups. Short-term adverse effects were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Augmenting antipsychotics with the mood stabilizers of lamotrigine or divalproex sodium for most partially responsive patients with chronic schizophrenia did not seem to be a useful treatment strategy for improving the residual symptoms. The small sample size limits firm conclusions.

Screening for History of Childhood Abuse: Beliefs, Practice Patterns, and Barriers Among Obstetrician-Gynecologists.

BACKGROUND: A history of childhood abuse is strongly linked to adult health problems. Obstetrician-gynecologists will undoubtedly treat abuse survivors during their careers, and a number of patient presenting problems may be related to a history of childhood abuse (e.g., chronic pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, mental health disorders, obesity, and chronic diseases). Knowledge of abuse history may assist with treatment planning and the delivery of trauma-informed care. The current study sought to explore obstetrician-gynecologists' training, knowledge, beliefs, practice patterns, and barriers around screening for history of childhood abuse in their adult patients. METHODS: Eight hundred Fellows and Junior Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were sent an electronic survey; 332 viewed recruitment emails. Data were analyzed with SPSS 24.0, including descriptive statistics, χ2, and t tests. RESULTS: One-hundred forty-five physicians completed the survey. The majority of responding providers believe that assessment of abuse history is important and relevant to patient care, yet few reported screening regularly. Most did not have formal training in screening for childhood abuse or its effects, although those who completed their training more recently were more likely to report training in these areas, as well as more likely to screen regularly. The majority of respondents noted they were not confident to screen. Barriers to screening were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Greater education and training about screening for childhood abuse history and the effects of childhood abuse are needed. The integration of mental health providers into practice is one method that may increase screening rates.

Reproductive Health of Women Veterans: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 2008 to 2017.

The literature on the reproductive health and healthcare of women Veterans has increased dramatically, though there are important gaps. This article aims to synthesize recent literature on reproductive health and healthcare of women Veterans. We updated a literature search to identify manuscripts published between 2008 and July 1, 2017. We excluded studies that were not original research, only included active-duty women, or had few women Veterans in their sample. Manuscripts were reviewed using a standardized abstraction form. We identified 52 manuscripts. Nearly half (48%) of the new manuscripts addressed contraception and preconception care (n = 15) or pregnancy (n = 10). The pregnancy and family planning literature showed that (1) contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy among women Veterans using VA healthcare is similar to that of the general population; (2) demand for VA maternity care is increasing; and (3) women Veterans using VA maternity care are a high-risk population for adverse pregnancy outcomes. A recurrent finding across topics was that history of lifetime sexual assault and mental health conditions were highly prevalent among women Veterans and associated with a wide variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes across the life course. The literature on women Veterans' reproductive health is rapidly expanding, but remains largely observational. Knowledge gaps persist in the areas of sexually transmitted infections, infertility, and menopause.

The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Women's Physical Health: Findings From the Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem. It has far reaching consequences such as social and economic costs, as well as a negative impact on women's health outcomes. This study assessed the relationship between IPV and health risk factors, health behaviors, and poor mental health in Missouri women utilizing 2005 Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data ( n = 3,110). Moderators (demographic indicators) of the relationship between IPV and health risk factors (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity) and health behaviors (physical inactivity, smoking, and binge drinking) were also examined. Women with a history of IPV were more likely to engage in health-compromising behaviors such as smoking and binge drinking, be obese, and report more poor mental health days compared with women without a history of IPV. Demographic variables moderated the relationship between IPV, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These findings underscore the importance that clinics, community, or other health care settings can play in identifying women who are victims of or have a history of IPV and provide them with appropriate resources as well as targeted interventions to reduce morbidity in this population.

Impact of Engagement in Exercise on Sleep Quality Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Exercise has beneficial effects for physical health outcomes and has also been shown to reduce the severity of psychological health symptoms. Recent studies have shown a potentially positive impact of exercise on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prominent among those with PTSD, sleep disturbance and nightmares are among the top three PTSD symptoms commonly reported by treatment-seeking Veterans. Regular physical exercise has been consistently associated with better sleep. This study utilized a longitudinal design to explore the relationship between exercise and sleep among Veterans with PTSD symptoms at baseline and one-year follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Veterans (n = 76) who served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn were recruited for this study. Correlations were assessed between PTSD symptoms, sleep, and engagement in exercise at each time point (baseline, one-year follow-up). Regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between engagement in exercise at baseline and PTSD symptoms at one-year follow-up, as well as sleep quality at one-year follow-up. Regression models controlled for demographic variables (age and gender), alcohol use, baseline PTSD symptoms, and baseline sleep quality. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that engagement in exercise at baseline was significantly associated with better sleep quality at one-year follow-up while controlling for age, gender, alcohol use, baseline PTSD symptoms, and baseline sleep quality (ß = -0.128, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses examining the relationship between engagement in exercise at baseline and PTSD symptoms at one-year follow-up (controlling for age, gender, alcohol use, baseline PTSD symptoms, and baseline sleep quality) did not yield statistically significant results (ß = 0.053, p = 0.57). CONCLUSION: Results from the present study found that engagement in exercise at baseline was associated with better sleep quality at one-year follow-up. These findings were consistent with the current literature suggesting exercise can have a positive impact on sleep quality. Furthermore, our findings suggest that exercise could be considered as an adjunctive intervention for individuals with PTSD-particularly for those patients whose difficulties with sleep are predominant. Given that exercise is highly accessible and is embedded in the military culture, future research should examine the way in which exercise can be leveraged in PTSD treatment, specifically in ameliorating sleep difficulties. Exercise may also reap demonstrable public health benefits in multiple psychological and physical domains and reduce the psychiatric and medical morbidity and mortality associated with PTSD.

Assessing posttraumatic stress related impairment and well-being: The Posttraumatic Stress Related Functioning Inventory (PRFI).

Posttraumatic stress symptoms are associated with poorer social and occupational functioning and quality of life. However, general assessments of functioning do not determine the extent to which these difficulties are directly related to PTSD symptoms. This study examines the psychometric properties of a self-report measure, the 27-item Posttraumatic Stress Related Functioning Inventory (PRFI), which was developed to provide a self-report tool for clinicians and researchers to better understand the perceived impact of PTSD symptoms on functioning. The psychometric properties of the PRFI were examined utilizing data collected within a larger study examining quality of life and functioning in 251 veterans who had served in OEF/OIF/OND and endorsed the presence of subsyndromal or greater levels of PTSD symptoms at screening. One-year test-retest reliability of the measure was examined in a subset of the baseline sample who received a second administration of the PRFI (n = 109). Higher levels of PTSD symptoms were associated with poorer functioning in all domains. The PRFI demonstrated convergent validity with a measure of PTSD symptoms and was less correlated with measures of alcohol and drug use, good internal consistency and test-retest reliability from baseline to one-year follow-up. The PRFI provides self-report information regarding several domains of functioning. This initial examination of psychometric properties of the scale indicated that it may be useful for efficiently eliciting information about the ways in which PTSD symptoms in veterans impact everyday functioning.

Residual injury, appearance-related concerns, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression within a treatment-seeking veteran sample.

This study explored the associations among injury-related appearance changes experienced during deployment/combat, symptom severity of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and body image distress within a treatment-seeking veteran population (n = 91). Thirty-three percent of the sample reported having an appearance-related residual injury experienced during combat or deployment (n = 30). A subsample, who completed the body image distress measure (n = 69), was divided into two groups: those with an appearance-related residual injury (n = 22) and those without an appearance-related residual injury (n = 47). Correlational analyses revealed significant, positive correlations between body image distress and depression symptom severity. Results also showed a trend relationship between body image distress and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity for those with an appearance-related residual injury although correlations were nonsignificant among these constructs for those without an appearance-related residual injury. Multiple regression analyses revealed that body image distress was a unique predictor of depression symptom severity, controlling for residual injury status. Implications of these findings for exploring the psychological impact of residual injury were discussed.

Killing and latent classes of PTSD symptoms in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to better understand distinct PTSD symptom presentations in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (N=227) and to determine whether those who killed in war were at risk for being in the most symptomatic class. METHODS: We used latent class analysis of responses to the PTSD checklist and logistic regression of most symptomatic class. RESULTS: We found that a four-class solution best fit the data, with the following profiles emerging: High Symptom (34% of participants), Intermediate Symptom (41%), Intermediate Symptom with Low Emotional Numbing (10%), and Low Symptom (15%). The largest group of individuals who reported killing (45%) was in the High Symptom class, and those who killed had twice the odds of being in the most symptomatic PTSD class, compared to those who did not kill. Those who endorsed killing a non-combatant (OR=4.56, 95% CI [1.77, 11.7], p<0.01) or killing in the context of anger or revenge (OR=4.63, 95% CI=[1.89, 11.4], p<0.001) were more likely to belong to the most symptomatic PTSD class, compared to those who did not kill. LIMITATIONS: The study was retrospective and cross-sectional. The results may not generalize to veterans of other wars. CONCLUSIONS: Killing in war may be an important indicator of risk for developing frequent and severe PTSD symptoms. This has implications for the mental healthcare of veterans, providing evidence that a comprehensive evaluation of returning veterans should include an assessment of killing experiences and reactions to killing.

Gender differences in military sexual trauma and mental health diagnoses among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVE: We examined correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including military sexual trauma (MST), in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. We also compared mental health comorbidities by gender among veterans with PTSD, with and without MST. METHODS: Retrospective data analyses were conducted using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data from 213,803 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and the subset diagnosed with PTSD from April 1, 2002, to October 1, 2008. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression compared by gender to investigate independent correlates and mental health comorbidities associated with PTSD, with and without MST. RESULTS: Among women with PTSD, 31% screened positive for MST; 1% of men with PTSD screened positive for MST. Among those with PTSD, veterans with MST had more comorbid mental health diagnoses than those without MST. Women with PTSD and MST were more likely to receive comorbid depression, anxiety, and eating disorder diagnoses, and men were more likely to receive comorbid substance use disorder diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: MST is associated with an increased prevalence of mental health disorders comorbid with PTSD. Better understanding comorbidity patterns will allow for targeted evaluation and treatment of returning veterans with MST.