title: Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and health-related quality of life in OEF/OIF veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are often associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) combat veterans. The current study examines the individual contributions of these two disorders on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in an OEF/OIF cohort. The study hypothesizes that PTSD and depression will each significantly predict lower physical and mental HRQoL even when controlling for overlapping symptoms: anhedonia, concentration, and insomnia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 220 OEF/OIF combat veterans who completed an interview and self-report questionnaires examining study variables. All study hypotheses were tested with multiple regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTSD and depression significantly contributed to mental and physical HRQoL, even after controlling for overlapping symptoms. However, while independent main effects of PTSD and depression, with and without overlapping symptoms, emerged for predicting mental HRQoL, no significant independent main effects emerged for predicting physical HRQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest PTSD and depression contribute uniquely to the negative relationship with HRQoL, adding to the growing literature on distinctive and common effects of these disorders in OEF/OIF veterans. Results highlight the need to better understand the implications for assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, 3350 La Jolla Village, Drive MC 116A, San Diego, CA 92161, USA. james.pittman@va.gov
authors.forename: James O E
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Abigail A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lemmer
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kilmer
authors.forename: Dewleen G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult