title: Prospective associations between changes in mental health symptoms and health-related quality of life in veterans seeking posttraumatic stress disorder residential treatment.
abstract: This study examined prospective associations between changes in mental health symptoms (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression) and health-related quality of life (physical health, psychological well-being) for veterans with PTSD.
  
  
  
  This study focused on 139 patients who completed a residential treatment program for PTSD in the Veterans Health Administration.
  
  
  
  Patients completed the veteran-specific, 12-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, PTSD Checklist - Military version, and Beck Depression Inventory at pre-treatment, discharge, and a four-month follow-up. When accounting for demographic factors, combat exposure, and baseline scores on the respective outcome variables (e.g. mental health, physical health, PTSD, and depressive symptoms), a series of multivariate analyses were conducted for treatment-related changes in mental and physical health on the outcome measures.
  
  
  
  Reductions in PTSD symptomatology during the treatment period were prospectively linked with better health-related outcomes at the four-month follow-up. In addition, improved physical health and psychological well-being during treatment were each similarly associated with better PTSD and depression outcomes in the months following treatment.
  
  
  
  Addressing concerns in mental and physical health might have synergistic effects across both domains, supporting the need for holistic models and integrated health care strategies for treating veterans with PTSD.
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , University of South Alabama , Mobile , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Channing A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sofko
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , University of South Alabama , Mobile , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Currier
authors.affiliation: b National Center for PTSD , Dissemination and Training Division , Menlo Park , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Kent D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Drescher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012114:Residential Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: PTSD; mental health; physical health; quality of life; veterans