TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Predictors of PTSD 40 years after combat: findings from the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study
JO  - Depression and anxiety
A1  - Steenkamp, Maria M.
A1  - Schlenger, William E.
A1  - Corry, Nida
A1  - Henn-Haase, Clare
A1  - Qian, Meng
A1  - Li, Meng
A1  - Horesh, Danny
A1  - Karstoft, Karen-Inge
A1  - Williams, Christianna
A1  - Ho, Chia-Lin
A1  - Shalev, Arieh
A1  - Kulka, Richard
A1  - Marmar, Charles
SP  - 711
EP  - 722
VL  - 34
IS  - 8
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1091-4269
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/da.22628
ID  - ref1
ER  -