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A prospective study of depression following combat deployment in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

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Listed:
  • Wells, T.S.
  • Leardmann, C.A.
  • Fortuna, S.O.
  • Smith, B.
  • Smith, T.C.
  • Ryan, M.A.K.
  • Boyko, E.J.
  • Blazer, D.

Abstract

We investigated relations between deployment and new-onset depression among US service members recently deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Methods. We included 40219 Millennium Cohort Study participants who completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires and met inclusion criteria. Participants were identified with depression if they met the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire criteria for depression at follow-up, but not at baseline. Results. Deployed men and women with combat exposures had the highest onset of depression, followed by those not deployed and those deployed without combat exposures. Combat-deployed men and women were at increased risk for new-onset depression compared with nondeployed men and women (men: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.32; 95% confidence interval [Cl] = 1.13, 1.54; women: AOR=2.13; 95% Cl=1.70, 2.65). Conversely, deployment without combat exposures led to decreased risk for new-onset depression compared with those who did not deploy {men: AOR=0.66; 95% Cl=0.53, 0.83; women: AOR=0.65; 95% Cl=0.47,0.89). Conclusions. Deployment with combat exposures is a risk factor for new-onset depression among US service members. Post-deployment screening may be beneficial for US service members exposed to combat.

Suggested Citation

  • Wells, T.S. & Leardmann, C.A. & Fortuna, S.O. & Smith, B. & Smith, T.C. & Ryan, M.A.K. & Boyko, E.J. & Blazer, D., 2010. "A prospective study of depression following combat deployment in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(1), pages 90-99.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2008.155432_9
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.155432
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    Cited by:

    1. Kibris, Arzu & Goodwin, Robin, 2024. "The long-term effects of war exposure on psychological health: An experimental study with Turkish conscript veterans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    2. Lubens, Pauline & Silver, Roxane Cohen, 2019. "U.S. combat veterans’ responses to suicide and combat deaths: A mixed-methods study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Cesur, Resul & Sabia, Joseph J. & Tekin, Erdal, 2013. "The psychological costs of war: Military combat and mental health," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 51-65.
    4. Aroh Malachy Onyeneke & Adole Oloche, 2023. "Combat Exposure and Unit Cohesion as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Nigerian Soldiers," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(6), pages 1102-1111, June.
    5. Lyk-Jensen, Stéphanie Vincent & Weatherall, Cecilie Dohlmann & Jepsen, Peter Winning, 2016. "The effect of military deployment on mental health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 193-208.

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