title: Effect of dwell time on the mental health of US military personnel with multiple combat tours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the association of the length of time spent at home between deployments, or dwell time, with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included US Marine Corps personnel identified from military deployment records who deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom once (n = 49,328) or twice (n = 16,376). New-onset mental health diagnoses from military medical databases were included. We calculated the ratio of dwell-to-deployment time (DDR) as the length of time between deployments divided by the length of the first deployment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Marines with 2 deployments had higher rates of PTSD than did those with 1 deployment (2.1% versus 1.2%; P < .001). A DDR representing longer dwell times at home relative to first deployment length was associated with reduced odds of PTSD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.32, 0.70), PTSD with other mental health disorder (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.33, 0.94), and other mental health disorders (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.51, 0.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Longer dwell times may reduce postdeployment risk of PTSD and other mental health disorders. Future research should focus on the role of dwell time in adverse health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Modeling, Simulation, and Mission Support, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA 92106, USA. andrew.macgregor@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.forename: Peggy P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Amber L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Galarneau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors