title: The impact of PTSD symptoms on physical and mental health functioning in returning veterans.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the unique impact of PTSD symptoms, beyond other frequently examined factors on physical and mental health functioning in a sample of returning veterans. Assessments of 168 returning OEF/OIF veterans conducted an average of six months following return from deployment included measures of emotional disorders and the Short Form (36) Health Survey. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed significant, unique contribution of Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score above all other predictors in the model (demographics, severity of trauma exposure, physical injury, substance abuse and depressive symptoms), for both the physical (8%) and mental (6%) health aggregate scores, along with significant prediction of physical health (4-10%) and mental health (3-7%) subscale scores. The only other significant predictors were age for physical health scores, and depressive symptoms for mental health scores. PTSD criterion B (re-experiencing) symptoms uniquely predicted reduced physical health functioning and higher experience of bodily pain, while criterion D (hyperarousal) symptoms uniquely predicted lower feelings of energy/vitality and poorer perceptions of emotional health.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, United States; Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States. Electronic address: aasnaani@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asnaani
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, United States; Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, United States.
authors.forename: Madhavi K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, United States; Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
authors.forename: M Tracie
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Mental health; Physical health; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Veterans