title: Residual injury, appearance-related concerns, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression within a treatment-seeking veteran sample.
abstract: This study explored the associations among injury-related appearance changes experienced during deployment/combat, symptom severity of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and body image distress within a treatment-seeking veteran population (n = 91). Thirty-three percent of the sample reported having an appearance-related residual injury experienced during combat or deployment (n = 30). A subsample, who completed the body image distress measure (n = 69), was divided into two groups: those with an appearance-related residual injury (n = 22) and those without an appearance-related residual injury (n = 47). Correlational analyses revealed significant, positive correlations between body image distress and depression symptom severity. Results also showed a trend relationship between body image distress and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity for those with an appearance-related residual injury although correlations were nonsignificant among these constructs for those without an appearance-related residual injury. Multiple regression analyses revealed that body image distress was a unique predictor of depression symptom severity, controlling for residual injury status. Implications of these findings for exploring the psychological impact of residual injury were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, 221 North Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63103.
authors.forename: Terri L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Veterans Medical Research Foundation, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr. (151A), Building 13, San Diego, CA 92161.
authors.forename: Kristen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center,3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chard
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, 221 North Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63103.
authors.forename: Jeane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D000067029:Physical Appearance, Body; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*