posttraumatic stress and its relationship to physical health functioning in a sample of Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans seeking postdeployment VA health care.
The relationship between posttraumatic stress and physical health functioning was examined in a sample of Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans seeking postdeployment VA care. Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans (N = 108) who presented for treatment to a specialty postdeployment care clinic completed self-report questionnaires that assessed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chemical exposure, combat exposure, and physical health functioning. As predicted, PTSD symptom severity was significantly associated with poorer health functioning, even after accounting for demographic factors, combat and chemical exposure, and health risk behaviors. These results highlight the unique influence of PTSD on the physical health in treatment seeking Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans.
Jakupcak
Matthew
M
VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA. matthew.jakupcak@va.gov
Luterek
Jane
J
Hunt
Stephen
S
Conybeare
Daniel
D
McFall
Miles
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002618:Chemical Warfare; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology