A prospective study of depression following combat deployment in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated relations between deployment and new-onset depression among US service members recently deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.


METHODS
We included 40 219 Millennium Cohort Study participants who completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires and met inclusion criteria. Participants were identified with depression if they met the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire criteria for depression at follow-up, but not at baseline.


RESULTS
Deployed men and women with combat exposures had the highest onset of depression, followed by those not deployed and those deployed without combat exposures. Combat-deployed men and women were at increased risk for new-onset depression compared with nondeployed men and women (men: adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.13, 1.54; women: AOR=2.13; 95% CI=1.70, 2.65). Conversely, deployment without combat exposures led to decreased risk for new-onset depression compared with those who did not deploy (men: AOR=0.66; 95% CI=0.53, 0.83; women: AOR=0.65; 95% CI=0.47, 0.89).


CONCLUSIONS
Deployment with combat exposures is a risk factor for new-onset depression among US service members. Post-deployment screening may be beneficial for US service members exposed to combat.
Wells
Timothy S
TS
US Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th HPW/RHPA, Building 824 Room 206, 2800 Q St, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7947, USA. timothy.wells@wpafb.af.mil
LeardMann
Cynthia A
CA
Fortuna
Sarah O
SO
Smith
Besa
B
Smith
Tyler C
TC
Ryan
Margaret A K
MA
Boyko
Edward J
EJ
Blazer
Dan
D
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology