Citation

Phillips CJ, Leardmann CA, Gumbs GR, Smith B. BMC Psychiatry 2010; 10(1): 52.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1471-244X-10-52

PMID

20579379

PMCID

PMC2912797

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Combat exposure has been reported as one of the strongest risk factors for post-deployment posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military service members. Determining the impact of specific deployment-related exposures on the risk of developing PTSD has not been fully explored. Our study objective was to explore the relationship between specific combat exposures and other life experiences with post-deployment PTSD. METHODS: This study consisted of male Marines who completed a Recruit Assessment Program (RAP) survey during recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California as well as a follow-up survey several years after recruit training. Study participants included those Marines who deployed to the current operations in Iraq or Afghanistan between the baseline and follow-up surveys. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine which significant exposures and experiences were associated with post-deployment PTSD. RESULTS: Of the 706 study participants, 10.8% screened positive for post-deployment PTSD. Those who reported feeling in great danger of death (odds ratio OR = 4.63, 95% confidence interval CI: 2.46-8.73), were shot or seriously injured (OR=3.51, 95% CI: 1.58-7.77), saw someone wounded or killed (OR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.08-5.67), and baseline (before recruit training) prior violence exposures (OR=2.99, 95% CI: 1.46-6.10) were at increased odds for reporting PTSD symptoms. Number of deployments, number of close friends or relatives reported at follow-up, and enlisted pay grade were also significantly associated with post-deployment PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Combat exposures, specifically the threat of death, serious injury, and witnessing injury or death are significant risk factors for screening positive for post-deployment PTSD among male Marines as well as violence exposures prior to entering the Marine Corps, which are independent of future combat exposures. A thorough history of lifetime violence exposures should be pursued when considering a clinical diagnosis of PTSD.

Language: en