Citation

Prigerson HG, Maciejewski PK, Rosenheck RA. Am. J. Public Health 2002; 92(1): 59-63.

Affiliation

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Haven, CT, USA. holly.prigerson@yale.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11772762

PMCID

PMC1447389

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the percentage of adverse outcomes in US men attributable to combat exposure. METHODS: Standardized psychiatric interviews (modified Diagnostic Interview Schedule and Composite International Diagnostic Interview assessments) were administered to a representative national sample of 2,583 men aged 18 to 54 in the National Comorbidity Survey part II subsample. RESULTS: Adjusted attributable fraction estimates indicated that the following were significantly attributable to combat exposure: 27.8% of 12-month posttraumatic stress disorder, 7.4% of 12-month major depressive disorder, 8% of 12-month substance abuse disorder, 11.7% of 12-month job loss, 8.9% of current unemployment, 7.8% of current divorce or separation, and 21% of current spouse or partner abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Combat exposure results in substantial morbidity lasting decades and accounts for significant and multifarious forms of dysfunction at the national level.