title: Health problems of substance-dependent veterans with and those without trauma history.
abstract: Substance use disorders (SUDs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with an increased risk for health problems. We examined whether trauma history and PTSD were related to physical health in patients with an SUD. We compared health stressors, health service utilization, and self-rated health status in three groups of male veterans receiving SUD treatment: (1) no trauma exposure (SUD-only group), n = 55; (2) with PTSD (SUD-PTSD group), n = 32; and (3) trauma exposure without PTSD (SUD-trauma group), n = 34. The veterans were assessed quarterly for 1 year. Groups differed in their likelihood of experiencing chronic health stressors at all time points. The SUD-only group consistently had the lowest rates of chronic health stressors, the SUD-PTSD group had the highest rates, and the SUD-trauma group fell in between. In contrast, groups did not differ in rates of acute health problems. Chronic health stressors appear to be associated with trauma exposure and psychologic response to the trauma. Substance use disorder interventions may benefit from incorporation of primary care services.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Sonya B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McQuaid
authors.forename: Sandra A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*