title: Exploring the Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Soldiers Seeking Behavioral Health Care During a Combat Deployment.
abstract: This exploratory study examines the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in soldiers who sought behavioral health support during a combat deployment. We conducted a secondary analysis of data extracted from two studies on the basis of retrospective reviews of behavioral health records of soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Of 162 clinical samples, 135 (83%) reported at least one type of childhood adversity. ACE scores ranged from 0 to 9 with a mean of 3 (standard deviation = 2.4) and mode of 0. A total of 65 (40%) experienced four or more ACEs. Parental divorce or separation was the most frequently reported childhood experience and was associated with witnessing domestic violence, having a member of the household abuse substances, and being physically and psychologically abused as a child. A sizeable proportion lived with a household member who had been in prison. Soldiers with an extensive history of ACEs may benefit from additional mentoring from frontline leaders and prevention measures instituted by unit behavioral health personnel.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence, 3630 Stanley Road, Suite 011-2, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Applewhite
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Health, U.S. Army Health Clinic, Building 673, Glennan Road, Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, HI 96857.
authors.forename: Derrick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arincorayan
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence, 3630 Stanley Road, Suite 011-2, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001524:Behavioral Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires