title: Role of occupation on new-onset post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among deployed military personnel.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of military occupation on new-onset post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among U.S. combat veterans recently returned from deployment to Iraq. Enlisted, active duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel without a history of mental disorder were identified from deployment records and linked to medical databases (n = 40,600). Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between occupation and postdeployment PTSD and depression diagnoses by branch of service. Navy health care specialists had higher odds of new-onset PTSD (odds ratio [OR] 4.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58-7.94) and depression (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.53-4.34) compared with Navy functional support/other personnel. In addition, Marine combat specialists had higher odds of new-onset PTSD (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.48-2.47) and depression (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.10-1.68) compared with Marine functional support/other personnel. Occupation is associated with the development of new-onset PTSD and depression. The high rates of PTSD and depression among health care specialists warrant further investigation into the potential effects of caregiver stress on mental health.
authors.affiliation: Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.forename: Amber L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Galarneau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009326:Naval Medicine; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult