RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of co-occurring chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has yet to be established in a nationally representative sample of US veterans, and little is known about the individual contributing roles of these disorders to the psychiatric and functional burden of this comorbidity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of chronic pain, PTSD, and co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD, and psychiatric comorbidities and psychosocial functioning in these groups. DESIGN: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of US veterans. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans (n=4069) were classified into four groups: control (i.e., no PTSD or chronic pain), chronic pain only, PTSD only, and co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD. MAIN MEASURES: A probable PTSD diagnosis was established using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and a chronic pain diagnosis using a self-report item that queried health care professional diagnoses. Psychiatric and functional status were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Screen of Drug Use, Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Short Form Health Survey-8, Brief Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning, and Medical Outcomes Study Cognitive Functioning Scale. KEY RESULTS: A total of 3.8% of veterans reported both probable PTSD and a diagnosis of chronic pain. Relative to veterans with chronic pain alone, those with co-occurring chronic pain and probable PTSD were more likely to screen positive for psychiatric disorders (odds ratios [ORs]=2.59-9.88) and scored lower on measures of psychosocial functioning (Cohen's ds=0.38-1.43). Relative to veterans with probable PTSD only, those with co-occurring chronic pain and probable PTSD were more likely to have attempted suicide (OR=4.79; 95%CI, 1.81-12.69). CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore the importance of whole health care that considers a broad range of health and functional domains in the assessment and treatment of co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD in veterans.
Assuntos
Dor Crônica , Comorbidade , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Humanos , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/psicologia , Masculino , Dor Crônica/epidemiologia , Dor Crônica/psicologia , Feminino , Veteranos/psicologia , Veteranos/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Adulto , IdosoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Elucidation of the interaction of biological and psychosocial/environmental factors on opioid dependence (OD) risk can inform our understanding of the etiology of OD. We examined the role of psychosocial/environmental factors in moderating polygenic risk for opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS: Data from 1958 European ancestry adults who participated in the Yale-Penn 3 study were analyzed. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) were based on a large-scale multi-trait analysis of genome-wide association studies (MTAG) of OUD. RESULTS: A total of 420 (21.1%) individuals had a lifetime diagnosis of OD. OUD PRS were positively associated with OD (odds ratio [OR] 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-1.66). Household income and education were the strongest correlates of OD. Among individuals with higher OUD PRS, those with higher education level had lower odds of OD (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-0.98); and those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more likely to have OD relative to those without PTSD (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.04-2.35). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest an interplay between genetics and psychosocial environment in contributing to OD risk. While PRS alone do not yet have useful clinical predictive utility, psychosocial factors may help enhance prediction. These findings could inform more targeted clinical and policy interventions to help address this public health crisis.
Assuntos
Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Herança Multifatorial , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/genética , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/epidemiologia , Feminino , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/genética , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologia , População Branca/genética , Escolaridade , Interação Gene-AmbienteRESUMO
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is actively transitioning away from a disease-centric model of healthcare to one that prioritizes disease prevention and the promotion of overall health and well-being. Described as Whole Health, this initiative aims to provide personalized, values-centered care that optimizes physical, behavioral, spiritual, and socioeconomic well-being. To inform this initiative, we analyzed cross-sectional data from a nationally representative sample of primarily older U.S. military veterans to estimate levels of well-being across these domains, and identify sociodemographic, military, and potentially modifiable health and psychosocial correlates of them. Results revealed that, overall, veterans reported high domain-specific well-being (average scores ranging from 6.7 to 8.3 out of 10), with the highest levels in the socioeconomic domain and lowest in the physical domain. Several modifiable factors, including purpose in life, resilience, and social support, were strongly associated with the examined well-being domains. Interventions targeting these constructs may help promote well-being among U.S. veterans.
RESUMO
A growing number of studies have examined alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few longitudinal studies evaluated the prevalence and correlates of different trajectories of problematic alcohol use in vulnerable segments of the population, such as US veterans, over the 3-year course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal study of 2,441 US veterans. Latent growth mixture modeling was used to identify the trajectories and correlates of problematic alcohol use. Four trajectories were identified: consistent (N = 170, weighted 7.2%), decreasing (N = 38, weighted 2.2%), increasing (N = 22, weighted 1.2%), and low (N = 2,211, weighted 89.4%) problematic alcohol use. Greater household income, pre-pandemic drug use disorder (DUD), lower social support, and COVID-19 infection to self or non-household members were associated with an increasing relative to decreasing problematic alcohol use trajectory. Greater household income, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), pre-pandemic DUD, lower social support, and greater COVID-related social restriction stress were associated with an increasing relative to a low problematic alcohol use trajectory. Younger age, male sex, ACEs, pre-pandemic DUD, lower pre-pandemic and greater decline in protective psychosocial characteristics, COVID-19 infection to non-household member, and lower COVID-related financial stress were associated with a consistent relative to a low problematic alcohol use trajectory. Overall, pre-pandemic greater income, DUD, and lower social support were associated with an increase in problematic alcohol use among US veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results may help inform prevention efforts to mitigate problematic alcohol use during prolonged crises in this population.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Humanos , Masculino , Veteranos/psicologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Pandemias , Saúde Pública , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Despite increasing recognition that positive psychological changes or posttraumatic growth (PTG) may develop after highly stressful or traumatic events, contemporary population-based data on the epidemiology of PTG in high-risk samples such as U.S. military veterans are lacking. Additionally, in light of emerging evidence suggesting an 8-factor model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, an up-to-date characterization of how these symptom clusters relate to PTG can help inform efforts to help promote PTG. Data were analyzed from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3,847 trauma-exposed U.S. veterans. Participants completed assessments of potentially traumatic events, PTSD symptoms, and PTG, as well as a broad range of sociodemographic, military, trauma, health, personality, and psychosocial characteristics. Results revealed that 63.2% of trauma-exposed veterans and 86.4% of veterans who screened positive for PTSD endorsed moderate-or-greater PTG; these prevalences are higher than those reported in an independent U.S. veteran sample in 2011 (50.1% and 72.0%, respectively). An inverted U-shaped association was observed between PTSD symptom severity and PTG levels, with scores of 31 to 51 on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 associated with the highest likelihood of PTG. Intrinsic religiosity and internally- and externally-generated intrusive symptoms of PTSD were identified as the strongest correlates of PTG. Results suggest that prevention and treatment efforts to mitigate severe PTSD symptoms, and help promote intrinsic religiosity, and more deliberate and organized rumination about traumatic experiences may help foster PTG in veterans.
Assuntos
Crescimento Psicológico Pós-Traumático , Resiliência Psicológica , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Humanos , Veteranos/psicologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/psicologia , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused myriad health, social, and economic stressors. To date, however, no known study has examined changes in mental health during the pandemic in the U.S. military veteran population. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative, prospective cohort survey of 3078 veterans. Pre-to-peri-pandemic changes in psychiatric symptoms were evaluated, as well as pre-pandemic risk and protective factors and pandemic-related correlates of increased psychiatric distress. RESULTS: The prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) positive screens increased from pre- to peri-pandemic (7.1% to 9.4%; p < 0.001) and was driven by an increase among veterans aged 45-64 years (8.2% to 13.5%; p < 0.001), but the prevalence of major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder positive screens remained stable. Using a continuous measure of psychiatric distress, an estimated 13.2% of veterans reported a clinically meaningful pre-to-peri-pandemic increase in distress (mean = 1.1 standard deviation). Veterans with a larger pre-pandemic social network size and secure attachment style were less likely to experience increased distress, whereas veterans reporting more pre-pandemic loneliness were more likely to experience increased distress. Concerns about pandemic-related social losses, mental health COVID-19 effects, and housing stability during the pandemic were associated with increased distress, over-and-above pre-pandemic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Although most U.S. veterans showed resilience to mental health problems nearly 1 year into the pandemic, the prevalence of GAD positive screens increased, particularly among middle-aged veterans, and one of seven veterans experienced increased distress. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Transtorno Depressivo Maior , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Humanos , Saúde Mental , Veteranos/psicologia , Estudos Prospectivos , Pandemias , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/epidemiologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/psicologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Little is known about environmental factors that may influence associations between genetic liability to suicidality and suicidal behavior. METHODS: This study examined whether a suicidality polygenic risk score (PRS) derived from a large genome-wide association study (N = 122,935) was associated with suicide attempts in a population-based sample of European-American US military veterans (N = 1664; 92.5% male), and whether cumulative lifetime trauma exposure moderated this association. RESULTS: Eighty-five veterans (weighted 6.3%) reported a history of suicide attempt. After adjusting for sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics, suicidality PRS was associated with lifetime suicide attempt (odds ratio 2.65; 95% CI 1.37-5.11). A significant suicidality PRS-by-trauma exposure interaction emerged, such that veterans with higher levels of suicidality PRS and greater trauma burden had the highest probability of lifetime suicide attempt (16.6%), whereas the probability of attempts was substantially lower among those with high suicidality PRS and low trauma exposure (1.4%). The PRS-by-trauma interaction effect was enriched for genes implicated in cellular and developmental processes, and nervous system development, with variants annotated to the DAB2 and SPNS2 genes, which are implicated in inflammatory processes. Drug repurposing analyses revealed upregulation of suicide gene-sets in the context of medrysone, a drug targeting chronic inflammation, and clofibrate, a triacylglyceride level lowering agent. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that genetic liability to suicidality is associated with increased risk of suicide attempt among veterans, particularly in the presence of high levels of cumulative trauma exposure. Additional research is warranted to investigate whether incorporation of genomic information may improve suicide prediction models.
Assuntos
Tentativa de Suicídio , Veteranos , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Tentativa de Suicídio/psicologia , Veteranos/psicologia , Ideação Suicida , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
Polygenic risk scores (PRS) may help inform the etiology of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In this study, we evaluated whether a suicidality PRS derived from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) of suicidality from the UK Biobank (N = 122,935) predicted suicidal ideation (SI) in a 7-year population-based, prospective cohort of European-American US veterans (N = 1326). Results revealed that 8.8% (n = 115) of veterans developed new-onset SI, 4.0% (n = 52) had chronic SI, 3.4% (n = 31) had remitted SI, and 83.8% (n = 1128) denied SI over the study period. Suicidality PRSstandardized was positively associated with chronic SI (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 4.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-20.48) and new-onset SI (RRR = 2.97, 95%CI = 1.22-7.23), and negatively associated with remitted SI (RRR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.02-0.60). Among veterans with higher suicidality PRS, those with higher baseline dispositional optimism had a lower likelihood of chronic SI (RRR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.49-0.91) and higher likelihood of remitted SI (RRR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.18-3.31). Among veterans with higher suicidality PRS, those with higher baseline levels of social support were less likely to develop new-onset SI (RRR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.99). These interaction effects were enriched for genes implicated in neuron recognition and development, while the PRS main effect was enriched for genes involved in mannosylation. Collectively, results of this study suggest that suicidality PRS is linked prospectively to symptomatic courses of SI, and that dispositional optimism and social support moderate these associations. Interventions targeting these modifiable psychosocial factors may help mitigate risk of SI in veterans with high polygenic risk for suicidality.
Assuntos
Ideação Suicida , Veteranos , Estudos de Coortes , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Humanos , Estudos Prospectivos , Veteranos/psicologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To examine the point prevalence and correlates of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) in a nationally-representative sample of United States (U.S.) veterans. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative study of 2,441 U.S. veterans. RESULTS: A total of 158 (weighted 7.3%) veterans screened positive for PGD. The strongest correlates of PGD were adverse childhood experiences, female sex, non-natural causes of death, knowing someone who died from coronavirus disease 2019, and number of close losses. After adjusting for sociodemographic, military, and trauma variables, veterans with PGD were 5-to-9 times more likely to screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. After additional adjustment for current psychiatric and substance use disorders, they were 2-3 times more likely to endorse suicidal thoughts and behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore the importance of targeting PGD as an independent risk factor for psychiatric disorders and suicide risk.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Transtorno Depressivo Maior , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Humanos , Feminino , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Veteranos/psicologia , Prevalência , Transtorno do Luto Prolongado , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/epidemiologia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Ideação Suicida , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/psicologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic has contributed to widespread social and economic stressors, along with substantial health problems, including loss of life. To date, however, relatively few studies have examined the prevalence and correlates of declines in mental and physical functioning in U.S. military veterans, an older and potentially vulnerable segment of the U.S. adult population. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal study of 3078 veterans. Veterans were surveyed prior to the pandemic (pre-pandemic) and 1 year later during the height of the pandemic (peri-pandemic). Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify risk and protective variables associated with pre-to-peri pandemic declines in self-reported physical and mental functioning. RESULTS: The prevalence of veterans who experienced functional decline (≥0.5 standard deviation reductions) pre-to-peri-pandemic was 18.1% (N = 541) for physical functioning and 18.3% (N = 547) for mental functioning. Older age, greater adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and pandemic-related posttraumatic stress symptoms were the strongest correlates of physical functional decline, while greater ACEs, loneliness, pandemic-related posttraumatic and social restriction stress symptoms, and lower protective psychosocial characteristics were the strongest correlates of mental functional decline. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of U.S. Veterans showed functional maintenance or improvement 1 year into the pandemic, nearly one-in-five experienced a decline in physical or mental functioning. Results could help inform identification of veterans who may be at risk for functional decline during large-magnitude stressors, such as national or global pandemics.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Resiliência Psicológica , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Humanos , Veteranos/psicologia , Pandemias , Estudos Longitudinais , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on physical and mental health worldwide. While pandemic-related stress has also been linked to increased insomnia, scarce research has examined this association in nationally representative samples of high-risk populations, such as military veterans. We evaluated pre- and pandemic-related factors associated with new-onset and exacerbated insomnia symptoms in a nationally representative sample of 3,078 US military veterans who participated in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Veterans were surveyed in the USA in 11/2019 (pre-pandemic) and again in 11/2020 (peri-pandemic). The Insomnia Severity Index was used to assess severity of insomnia symptoms at the pre- and peri-pandemic assessments. Among veterans without clinical or subthreshold insomnia symptoms pre-pandemic (n = 2,548), 11.5% developed subthreshold (10.9%) or clinical insomnia symptoms (0.6%) during the pandemic; among those with subthreshold insomnia symptoms pre-pandemic (n = 1,058; 26.0%), 8.0% developed clinical insomnia symptoms. Pre-pandemic social support (21.9% relative variance explained), pandemic-related stress related to changes in family relationships (20.5% relative variance explained), pre-pandemic chest pain (18.5% relative variance explained) and weakness (11.1% relative variance explained), and posttraumatic stress disorder (8.2% relative variance explained) explained the majority of the variance in new-onset subthreshold or clinical insomnia symptoms during the pandemic. Among veterans with pre-pandemic subthreshold insomnia, pandemic-related home isolation restrictions (59.1% relative variance explained) and financial difficulties (25.1% relative variance explained) explained the majority of variance in incident clinical insomnia symptoms. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that nearly one in five US veterans developed new-onset or exacerbated insomnia symptoms during the pandemic, and identify potential targets for prevention and treatment efforts.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Humanos , Pandemias , Estudos Prospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono/epidemiologia , Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono/etiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Parental substance use disorder (SUD) increases the risk for childhood adversities. Lifetime and current SUDs are associated with functional impairment and psychiatric comorbidity. Research shows that these abate with diagnostic remission. However, a hierarchically ordered heuristic profile of adult subpopulations affected by SUDs has not been explored. METHODS: We used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave III (NESARC-III; N = 36,309) to compare four subpopulations defined by the following hierarchy: (1) neither parental nor lifetime SUD (un-affected group); (2) parental SUD but no personal SUD; (3) past but not current SUD (diagnostic remission); and (4) current SUD. We conducted bivariate comparisons and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression to identify characteristics independently differentiating each group. RESULTS: Almost half of the US adult population (108.9 million) were at risk from SUDs. Relative to the unaffected group (56.1%), the parental-exposure-only group (13.9%) experienced diverse parental and childhood adversities and increased risk for psychiatric disorders. Compared to the parental-exposure-only group those in the remitted group (14.1%) were more likely to report behavioral problems and lifetime psychiatric multimorbidities. Those with current SUD (15.9%) had a poorer mental health-related quality of life. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This heuristic SUD hierarchy is associated with increasing adversities affecting almost half the US population, although only 15.9% meet the criteria for a current disorder. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings provide a rigorous population-based estimate of the staggering public health impact of SUDs in the United States and suggest that almost half of the US population is either directly or indirectly affected by SUDs.
Assuntos
Qualidade de Vida , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias , Adulto , Criança , Comorbidade , Nível de Saúde , Humanos , Pais , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/diagnóstico , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/psicologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Cannabis use is common among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, but its impact on psychiatric symptoms and functioning in this population is unclear. To clarify the clinical and functional correlates of cannabis use in individuals with PTSD symptoms, we analyzed data from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative survey of U.S. military veterans. Participants with current subthreshold or full PTSD (N = 608) reported on their past-6-month cannabis use and current psychiatric symptoms, functioning, treatment utilization, and PTSD symptom management strategies. Veterans with subthreshold/full PTSD who used cannabis more than weekly were more likely to screen positive for co-occurring depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than those who did not use cannabis, ORs = 3.4-3.8, or used cannabis less than weekly, ORs = 2.7-3.7. Veterans who used cannabis more than weekly also scored lower in cognitive functioning than veterans with no use, d = 0.25, or infrequent use, d = 0.71, and were substantially more likely to endorse avoidance coping strategies, ORs = 8.2-12.2, including substance use, OR = 4.4, and behavioral disengagement, ORs = 2.7-9.1, to manage PTSD symptoms. Despite more psychiatric and functional problems, veterans with frequent cannabis use were not more likely to engage in mental health treatment, ORs = 0.87-0.99. The results suggest enhanced cannabis use screening, interventions targeting risky use, and strategies promoting treatment engagement may help ameliorate more severe clinical presentations associated with frequent cannabis use among veterans with subthreshold/full PTSD.
Assuntos
Cannabis , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos , Veteranos , Adaptação Psicológica , Humanos , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/complicações , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/terapia , Ideação Suicida , Veteranos/psicologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: The substantial and unexpected increase in "deaths of despair" in the US (e.g., deaths from drug overdose, suicide, and alcohol-related liver diseases) reported by economists Case and Deaton in 2015 raises questions about the number and characteristics of US adults potentially living "lives of despair" with these problems. METHODS: We used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave III (NESARC-III) to examine population estimates and characteristics of adults with lifetime history of substance use disorder (SUD) and suicide attempt, or either condition alone, as compared to those with neither. RESULTS: An estimated 7.2 million adults had both lifetime SUD and suicide attempt and 78.8 million had either. Those with both faced far more psychosocial adversities, familial adverse experiences and psychiatric disorders compared to those with the other two groups, and reported greater mental health service utilization. Multivariable analysis showed that psychiatric multimorbidity and violence were the strongest correlates of having both conditions as compared to neither while those with either condition fell in between. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of US adults live with a lifetime SUD and suicide attempt with a multiplicity of additional socioeconomic, psychiatric and familial problems. While their utilization of mental health care service exceeds those with either or neither conditions, quality of life remained much poorer, suggesting that mental health treatment alone may not be enough to mitigate their sufferings, and a combination of both social policy support and quality mental health care may be needed.
Assuntos
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Álcool , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias , Adulto , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Álcool/epidemiologia , Humanos , Qualidade de Vida , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Tentativa de Suicídio , Populações VulneráveisAssuntos
Demência , Solidão , Humanos , Fatores de Risco , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de SaúdeRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to investigate the prevalence and predictors of suicidal ideation among Korean American older adults and assess the self-rated mental health of Korean American older adults with suicidal ideation with or without depressive syndrome. METHODS: The Memory and Aging Study of Koreans is a cross-sectional, epidemiologic study of a community-representative sample of Korean American older adults (N = 1116) residing in the Baltimore-Washington area. Participants were interviewed using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9K). In addition, demographic information, self-rated mental health, and self-rated physical health status were obtained. RESULTS: In this study, 14.7% of Korean American older adults reported suicidal ideation. Predictors of suicidal ideation included living alone, major or minor depressive syndrome (diagnosed by the PHQ-9K), shorter duration of residency in the USA, and poorer self-rated mental health status. Of those who reported suicidal ideation, 64% did not have minor or major depressive syndrome. However, their self-rated mental health was as poor as that of those with major or minor depressive syndrome but without suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Suicidal ideation without depressive syndromes was common among Korean American older adults. For this group of elders with poor self-rated mental health, future studies should look to improving early detection of suicide risks and developing feasible suicide prevention interventions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assuntos
Asiático/psicologia , Ideação Suicida , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estudos Transversais , Transtorno Depressivo/epidemiologia , Feminino , Nível de Saúde , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Masculino , Memória , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Características de Residência , Fatores de Risco , Comportamento Autodestrutivo , Suicídio/psicologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Problem opioid use (POU) is a serious public health crisis in the United States. However, little research has examined the prevalence, correlates, and psychiatric characteristics of POU in vulnerable segments of the population, such as US military veterans. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2441 US veterans. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to identify correlates and psychiatric correlates of POU (defined as a positive screen on the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medication, and Other Substance Use Tool). RESULTS: A total 3.0% (95% confidence interval, 2.0%-4.5%) of US veterans screened positive for POU. Black, non-Hispanic race/ethnicity (odds ratio [OR], 3.83), lifetime alcohol use disorder (OR, 3.38), major depressive disorder (MDD; OR, 2.52), greater number of medical conditions (OR, 1.15), and disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL); OR, 1.86) were independently associated with POU. A significant interaction between IADL disability and MDD was observed (OR, 10.73)-among veterans with IADL disability, those with MDD had more than 6-fold greater POU than those without MDD (20.6% vs 3.2%). Furthermore, POU was associated with 2- to 3-folds greater odds of current generalized anxiety disorder and current posttraumatic stress disorder, and lifetime suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS: POU affects 3.0% of US veterans and is associated with Black race/ethnicity, lifetime physical and mental health morbidities, as well as current psychiatric disorders and lifetime suicide attempts. Results underscore the importance of assessing physical and mental health disorders in veterans at-risk for POU and addressing co-occurring psychiatric disorders associated with POU in this population.
Assuntos
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides , Veteranos , Humanos , Masculino , Veteranos/estatística & dados numéricos , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Feminino , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Adulto , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/epidemiologia , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Comorbidade , Idoso , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Distress related to systemic racism in the public service and healthcare systems is linked to adverse mental health sequelae in racial and ethnic minority populations. Emerging research has found that distress related to racism may impact military veterans, an increasingly racially and ethnically diverse segment of the US population who are at increased risk of mental health problems relative to non-veterans. To date, however, no known study has examined longitudinal trends in distress related to systemic racism in this population. METHODS: A nationally representative sample of 2361 US military veterans completed a baseline assessment in 2020 and a 2-year follow-up in 2022. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine longitudinal courses and baseline predictors of systemic racism-related distress. RESULTS: Relative to the veterans with no racism-related distress, those who reported racism-related distress across the 2-year study period were older, more likely to be female, Black, or Hispanic, and to have completed college or higher education, and reported more lifetime traumas and stressors. Nearly 4-of-5 of Black veterans endorsed distress related to systemic racism over the 2-year study period. LIMITATIONS: Use of self-report and abbreviated measures of distress related to systemic racism. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that distress related to systemic racism may pose a significant emotional burden on subgroups of US veterans. They further underscore the importance of training clinicians to provide culturally-informed assessments and treatments for Black and other racial and ethnic minority veterans who bear the weight of racial discrimination.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Unsafe storage of firearms is associated with increased risk of suicide.. However, contemporary population-based data on the prevalence and correlates of firearm storage practices among veterans are limited. METHODS: Data were from the 2022 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a nationally representative sample of 2441 veterans. Analyses examined: (1) the prevalence of firearm storage practices; (2) sociodemographic, psychiatric, and clinical characteristics associated with storing firearms loaded and/or in non-secure location; and (3) associations between types of potentially traumatic events and storage practices. RESULTS: More than half of veterans reported owning one or more personal firearms (50.9%). Among firearm owners, 52.9% reported some form of unsafe firearm storage practice (i.e., loaded and/or non-secure location), with 39.9% reporting that they stored one or more firearms loaded. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, major depressive, alcohol and drug use disorders, direct trauma exposures, future suicidal intent, and traumatic brain injury were associated with storing firearms loaded and/or in a non-secure location (ORs = 1.09-7.16). Veterans with a history of specific forms of direct trauma exposure (e.g., physical assault) were more likely to store firearms unsafely. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference. CONCLUSIONS: Half of U.S. veterans who own firearms store at least one personal firearm loaded and/or in a non-secure location, with approximately four-in-ten keeping a loaded firearm in the home. These high rates underscore the importance of nationwide training initiatives to promote safe firearm storage for all service members and veterans, regardless of risk status, as well as for healthcare professionals working with veterans.
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo Maior , Armas de Fogo , Suicídio , Veteranos , Humanos , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Estudos TransversaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although many studies indicate that individuals who have experienced a traumatic event can experience posttraumatic growth (PTG), some researchers have questioned the significance of PTG in associations with functioning. The role of PTG in functioning following trauma may be better elucidated by accounting for its joint effects with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3847 trauma-exposed U.S. veterans. Participants completed assessments of potentially traumatic events, PTSD symptoms, and PTG, as well as a broad range of sociodemographic, military, trauma, health, personality, and psychosocial characteristics. RESULTS: PTG was independently and moderately associated with higher mental, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning, but not physical functioning. Results showed a similar pattern of findings when examining relations between subdomains of PTG and these aspects of functioning. Additionally, among veterans who screened positive for PTSD, those who endorsed PTG reported higher levels of mental, cognitive, and/or psychosocial functioning than those who did not endorse PTG. LIMITATIONS: Findings may be limited by the use of a cross-sectional design, retrospective self-reports of PTG, and a predominantly older white male veteran sample. CONCLUSION: Results provide support for the functional significance of PTG and highlight the importance of considering PTSD symptoms to better understand the role of PTG in functioning. Clinical interventions to foster PTG may help promote post-trauma functioning.