title: Female veterans of the OEF/OIF conflict: concordance of PTSD symptoms and substance misuse.
abstract: This study examined the post-deployment rates of comorbid PTSD and substance abuse in a cohort of female veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Female OEF/OIF veterans and reservists (N=36) completed a battery of assessments as part of a larger study. Of the 36 participants, 11 (31%) screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 17 (47%) screened positive for high-risk drinking and 2 (6%) screened positive for drug abuse. Higher scores on measures of alcohol and drug use predicted positive PTSD status (p < or = 0.01) and alcohol misuse was significant in explaining unique variance of PTSD status (p < or = 0.05). Our findings suggest a trend toward increased problematic drinking among female OEF/OIF veterans and reservists and a relationship between substance misuse and PTSD. Future research should investigate needs for gender-specific PTSD and substance-abuse treatment needs.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive MC 116A, San Diego, CA 92161, USA. sarahnunnink@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nunnink
authors.forename: Gali
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goldwaser
authors.forename: Pia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Heppner
authors.forename: James O E
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nievergelt
authors.forename: Dewleen G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000346:Afghanistan; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult