@article{ref1,
title="Predictors of PTSD 40 years after combat: findings from the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study",
journal="Depression and anxiety",
year="2017",
author="Steenkamp, Maria M. and Schlenger, William E. and Corry, Nida and Henn-Haase, Clare and Qian, Meng and Li, Meng and Horesh, Danny and Karstoft, Karen-Inge and Williams, Christianna and Ho, Chia-Lin and Shalev, Arieh and Kulka, Richard and Marmar, Charles",
volume="34",
number="8",
pages="711-722",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Few studies have longitudinally examined predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a nationally representative sample of US veterans. We examined predictors of warzone-related PTSD over a 25-year span using data from the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (NVVLS). <br><br>METHODS: The NVVLS is a follow-up study of Vietnam theater veterans (N = 699) previously assessed in the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS), a large national-probability study conducted in the late 1980s. We examined the ability of 22 premilitary, warzone, and postmilitary variables to predict current warzone-related PTSD symptom severity and PTSD symptom change in male theater veterans participating in the NVVLS. Data included a self-report Health Questionnaire survey and a computer-assisted telephone Health Interview Survey. Primary outcomes were self-reported PTSD symptoms assessed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL 5) and Mississippi PTSD Scale (M-PTSD). <br><br>RESULTS: Predictors of current PTSD symptoms most robust in hierarchical multivariable models were African-American race, lower education level, negative homecoming reception, lower current social support, and greater past-year stress. PTSD symptoms remained largely stable over time, and symptom exacerbation was predicted by African-American race, lower education level, younger age at entry into Vietnam, greater combat exposure, lower current social support, and greater past-year stressors. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Findings confirm the robustness of a select set of risk factors for warzone-related PTSD, establishing that these factors can predict PTSD symptom severity and symptom change up to 40 years postdeployment.<br><br>© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1091-4269",
doi="10.1002/da.22628",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/da.22628"
}