Citation

Kelley ML, Brancu M, Robbins AT, D'Lima GM, Strauss JL, Curry JF, Fairbank JA, Runnals JJ. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015; 152: 201-208.

Affiliation

Mid-Atlantic Region VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC 27705, USA; Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.Runnals@va.gov.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.03.038

PMID

25957156

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The current study was undertaken to examine whether posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms mediated the association between trauma exposure (combat-related trauma and non-combat traumas occurring before, during, and after military service), and drug abuse symptoms use among male and female veterans.

METHODS: Participants were 2304 (1851 male, 453 female) veterans who took part in a multi-site research study conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC). Path analytic models were used to determine the association between problematic past-year drug use and combat-related and non-combat trauma experienced before, during, or after the military and whether current post-traumatic stress symptoms or depressive symptoms mediated these associations.

RESULTS: For both male and female veterans, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of pre- and post-military trauma on drug abuse symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Mental health providers who work with trauma-exposed Iraq and Afghanistan era veterans should assess for drug use, depressive symptoms, and life-span trauma (i.e., not only combat-related traumas) as part of a thorough trauma-based assessment for both men and women.

Language: en