Michelle L Kelley1, Mira Brancu2, Allison T Robbins3, Gabrielle M D'Lima4, Jennifer L Strauss5, John F Curry6, John A Fairbank7, Jennifer Runnals8. 1. Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, 5115 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA. Electronic address: mkelley@odu.edu. 2. Mid-Atlantic Region VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC 27705, USA; Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: Mira.Brancu@va.gov. 3. Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology, Norfolk, VA 23504, USA. Electronic address: atrobbin@gmail.com. 4. Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, 5115 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA. Electronic address: gdlima@odu.edu. 5. Mid-Atlantic Region VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Mental Health Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.Strauss@va.gov. 6. Mid-Atlantic Region VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC 27705, USA; Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: John.Curry@va.gov. 7. Mid-Atlantic Region VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC 27705, USA; Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: John.Fairbank2@va.gov. 8. Mid-Atlantic Region VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC 27705, USA; Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.Runnals@va.gov.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The current study was undertaken to examine whether posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms mediated the association between trauma exposure (combat-related trauma and non-combat traumas occurring before, during, and after military service), and drug abuse symptoms use among male and female veterans. METHODS: Participants were 2304 (1851 male, 453 female) veterans who took part in a multi-site research study conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC). Path analytic models were used to determine the association between problematic past-year drug use and combat-related and non-combat trauma experienced before, during, or after the military and whether current post-traumatic stress symptoms or depressive symptoms mediated these associations. RESULTS: For both male and female veterans, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of pre- and post-military trauma on drug abuse symptoms. CONCLUSION: Mental health providers who work with trauma-exposed Iraq and Afghanistan era veterans should assess for drug use, depressive symptoms, and life-span trauma (i.e., not only combat-related traumas) as part of a thorough trauma-based assessment for both men and women.
BACKGROUND: The current study was undertaken to examine whether posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms mediated the association between trauma exposure (combat-related trauma and non-combat traumas occurring before, during, and after military service), and drug abuse symptoms use among male and female veterans. METHODS:Participants were 2304 (1851 male, 453 female) veterans who took part in a multi-site research study conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC). Path analytic models were used to determine the association between problematic past-year drug use and combat-related and non-combat trauma experienced before, during, or after the military and whether current post-traumatic stress symptoms or depressive symptoms mediated these associations. RESULTS: For both male and female veterans, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of pre- and post-military trauma on drug abuse symptoms. CONCLUSION: Mental health providers who work with trauma-exposed Iraq and Afghanistan era veterans should assess for drug use, depressive symptoms, and life-span trauma (i.e., not only combat-related traumas) as part of a thorough trauma-based assessment for both men and women.
Authors: Mira Brancu; H Ryan Wagner; Rajendra A Morey; Jean C Beckham; Patrick S Calhoun; Larry A Tupler; Christine E Marx; Katherine H Taber; Robin A Hurley; Jared Rowland; Scott D McDonald; Jeffrey M Hoerle; Scott D Moore; Harold S Kudler; Richard D Weiner; John A Fairbank Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2017-06-27 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Elisheva R Danan; Erin E Krebs; Kristine Ensrud; Eva Koeller; Roderick MacDonald; Tina Velasquez; Nancy Greer; Timothy J Wilt Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2017-09-14 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Christina M Sheerin; Ananda B Amstadter; Erin D Kurtz; Kaitlin E Bountress; Kelcey J Stratton; Scott D McDonald Journal: Eur J Psychotraumatol Date: 2019-06-27