Citation

Packnett ER, Elmasry H, Toolin CF, Cowan DN, Boivin MR. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2017; 205(9): 672-678.

Affiliation

*Department of Epidemiology, Preventive Medicine Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, Maryland; and †ManTech Advanced Systems International Inc, Fairfax, Virginia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0000000000000692

PMID

28640037

Abstract

This study assesses the incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) disability discharge and retirement in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and describes MDD comorbidity. Service members with a disability discharge for either MDD (n = 2,882) or any nonpsychiatric disability (n = 56,145), between fiscal years 2007 and 2012, were included in the study population. Those with MDD disability at first evaluation but not at last evaluation were excluded. The incidence of MDD disability discharge increased significantly in the Army and Air Force between fiscal years 2007 and 2012. MDD disability retirement significantly increased in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Females, and those who experienced at least one deployment, had higher incidence rates of MDD disability discharge. All services included spinal diseases and posttraumatic stress disorder in their top five comorbid categories. Given the association between trauma and MDD, further research into the role of both combat exposure and injury on MDD is merited.

Language: en