Predicting Severity of PTSD Symptoms in OEF/OIF Veterans through Assessment of Deployment and Post-

Deployment Preparedness

LimitationsLimitations

Although a large volume of data can easily and quickly be procured through partnership with the Veteran Health Administration, this only gives us part of the picture. Many veterans haven't and may never seek or receive needed help for PTSD.

The use of only cross-sectional data limits this study as well. Because individuals will be asked to remember and record their perceptions about previous experiences, a recall bias may have a negative impact on the quality of information received.

ImplicationsImplications

Social WorkIf the current study shows that high levels of preparedness can reliably predict lower severity of PTSD symptoms, interventions could be designed to aid in pre and post-deployment preparation. Social workers could assume responsibility for a proposed intervention design and could play an active role in administering intervention to military members and training other professionals to do the same.

ResearchIf the hypothesis of this study is not disproven, an experimental study to develop and gauge the effectiveness of a comprehensive, consistent and mandated pre and post-deployment intervention program would be pertinent.

PolicyIf such research shows a mandated, consistent program to be effective in PTSD prevention and/or reduction in PTSD severity, implications for the national budget, should such an intervention be adopted, could be astounding. The cost of preparation for those involved in combat is potentially much lower than a lifetime of care and compensation for combat related mental and emotional injuries.

MethodsMethodsHypothesis H1: Combat veterans who felt thoroughly prepared for deployment were less likely to experience severe symptoms of post-traumatic stressH2: Veterans who felt prepared to return from combat and reenter their families and non-combat jobs, were less like to experience severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress

Independent Variables Comprehensive pre-combat preparatory training; Comprehensive post-combat debriefing

Dependent Variable Severe and debilitating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Study Population Recent combat (since 9/11/01) veterans who are current VA patients

Research DesignThis study will have a cross-sectional, self-report survey design

Study Sample Sample size of 3000 recent combat veterans who are patients at 15 different VA health centers. 1500 participants with current diagnoses of PTSD will be found in mental health clinics. An additional 1500 participants will be found in primary care clinics (PTSD status unknown). Every unique patient who meets the criteria, without exception, will be asked to participate until full sample is obtained.

Procedures for Data CollectionApproval from IRBObtain consent from each participantMeasures self-administered by patients, in waiting room, while waiting for their appointments

Measurement of VariablesExisting measures, created by the VA National Center for PTSD, to be used: Screen for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms; Sense of Preparedness Scale; Combat Experiences Scale; Deployment Social Support Scale; Post-deployment Social Support Scale

Control VariablesControl variables to be assessed include: gender; age; total number and length of deployments; place(s) of deployment; marital status; race

Data Analysis SSPS; quantitative design; assess correlation between sense of preparedness and severity of PTSD symptoms; assess correlation between post-deployment readiness and severity of PTSD symptoms

IntroductionIntroduction

• 2,333,972 American military personnel were deployed to combat zones from 2001-2011¹

• One in four recent combat veterans treated by the VA from 2004-2009, had a diagnoses of PTSD ²

• PTSD is exceptionally destructive to the lives of combat soldiers and veterans, increasing rates of joblessness, homelessness, divorce, relationship aggression, child custody loss and suicide ³

• Costs of lifetime VA compensation and treatment for each PTSD diagnosed veteran are staggering and weigh heavily on society as a whole

• Previous studies show positive correlation between comprehensive physical, ethical/moral and mental preparatory training and PTSD protection in police officers

• The current study aims to explore two separate points of intervention that may offer PTSD protection: pre-deployment preparation and post-deployment debriefing and to examine the integrated effects of these interventions on the severity of PTSD symptoms in combat veterans

¹Data from the Defense Manpower Data Center, ²Data from the Congressional Budget Office, ³Data from the National Center for PTSD

Average costs of care for all Veteran Health Administration (VHA) health care provided to overseas contingency operations (OCO, aka “combat”) patients. Congressional Budget Office, 2010. www.cbo.gov/publication/42969

Johanna England