Better Evaluating, Treating Psychological Effects of War

Military mental health was a top priority for doctors at last week's APA Annual Meeting. Elspeth C. Ritchie, M.D., M.P.H., and Marvin A. Oleshansky, M.D., (back) chaired a symposium on Evaluating and Treating the Effects of War at the American Psychiatric Association 164th Annual Meeting. Also presenting were CPT Michelle Hornbaker, M.D.; John C. Bradley, M.D.; Brett Schneider, M.D., and Scott C. Moran, M.D. Research about PTSD, the impact of deployment on families, and treatment of serious mental illnesses were among many topics addressed.

Psychiatric Symptoms Prior to Deployment Predict Risk of New Onset PTSD in a Cohort of National Guard Troops

A poster presented in the final poster session of the APA's 164th Annual Meeting in Honolulu discussed research that looked at whether individual symptoms associated with PTSD could be predictors of whether full PTSD would develop. Predeployment depression and alcohol dependence were not associated with increased risk of PTSD after deployment but risk was significantly elevated in the case of somatization. Subclinical symptoms of PTSD and somatization assessed prior to military deployment appear to be antecedent risk factors for new onset PTSD. Despite the fact that depression and alcohol dependence are frequently comorbid with PTSD neither acted as a risk factor in this study. The presence of multiple, nonspecific ailments, however, consistent with a somatization‑like process, was associated with increased vulnerability.

Study Looks at PTSD Risk Factors

National Guard troops who had some symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder but not enough to receive a diagnosis before deployment were more vulnerable to PTSD when exposed to combat trauma than other troops, according to a new study released at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Researchers found pre-deployment depression and alcohol dependence were not associated with an increased risk for PTSD.

The longitudinal study was scheduled for presentation Tuesday at the 164th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, which is in Honolulu May 14-18.

Researchers from the University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey, surveyed National Guard Members before and after deployment and compared pre-deployment and post-deployment data for 922 Guard members. The researchers looked at symptoms like intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and avoidance of stimuli associated with a trauma as well as for symptoms of depression and alcohol dependence.

When any of the PTSD symptoms were present prior to deployment, Guard members were at higher risk for a new onset of PTSD after exposure to combat trauma. Guard members screening positive for two out of three components prior to deployment had higher risk than those screen positive for one.

Despite the fact that depression and alcohol dependence frequently found with PTSD, neither was a risk factor in the study.

Study Shows Relationship Between Low Unit Cohesion, Suicidal Thoughts

Unit cohesion appears to be an important factor in determining whether soldiers think about suicide during a period after combat exposure, according to a study presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

U.S. Army researchers surveyed more than 1,600 soldiers from two combat brigades who had been deployed once. The survey was designed to measure of combat exposure, unit cohesion and self-reported thoughts of suicide. Soldiers who reported higher combat exposure and lower unit cohesion had the greatest odds for reporting suicidal thoughts during the previous four weeks. In addition, soldiers with similar combat exposure were more likely to have suicidal thoughts if they reported less unit cohesion.

The research was scheduled for presentation Tuesday, May 17, at the 164th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, which is in Honolulu May 14-18.

Study: Peer-Led Therapy May Reduce Suicide Risk

Participation in peer-led therapy groups can help at-risk patients become less vulnerable for suicide according to new research to be presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Honolulu.

Suicide risk assessment has become increasingly refined and utilized in public and private medical and psychiatric facilities across the nation including within the military where high suicide rates have been reported among recently returning military and older veterans.

The research examined whether identifying and reinforcing a primary care patient’s suicide protective factors, such as responsibilities toward children and family, optimism, hope, and positive coping skills, spiritual, moral, and religious factors, and social supports, may help lessen the impact of crises and depression and reduce the risk for suicide.

The study involved screening primary care patients at Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers for suicide risk using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Patients identified as at-risk were invited to a 4-week peer-led therapy group aimed at providing social support and educating patients on the importance of these protective factors and ways to integrate the factors more fully into their lives and ongoing awareness.

Data collected thus far, author Shabnam Balai, M.D., reports, are encouraging and show that by participating in a low-intensive, peer-led therapy group, primary care patients can become less vulnerable for suicide.

The research was presented at the APA Annual Meeting in Honolulu. The meeting was May 14-18, 2010.

Children of Deployed Parents More Likely to Experience Psychiatric Hospitalization

Children of military service members are more likely to be hospitalized for a psychiatric condition when a parent has been deployed, according to a new study presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

The research was scheduled for presentation in a press briefing Monday, May 16, at the 164th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, which is in Honolulu May 14-18

Researchers looked at records for nearly 380,000 children ages 9 to 17 years of active duty military personnel. The children’s data was linked to the parent’s deployment records.

The odds of psychiatric hospitalization increased by 10 percent among children age 9 to 17 years when a military parent was deployed, according to the study. The odds of hospitalization increased with increasing length of a parent’s deployment.

Details of this study, along with five other new research studies, will be presented at a press briefing from the APA Annual Meeting. Members of the media can attend in Room 307 of the Hawaii Convention Center at 8 am Hawaii time, Monday, May 16, or participate online at 11 AM PDT/2 pm EDT by registering at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/341505819.

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at http://www.psych.org/ and http://www.healthyminds.org/.