Post-traumatic Stress Disorder by Gender and Veteran Status.

Lehavot K, Katon JG, Chen JA, Fortney JC, Simpson TL. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder by Gender and Veteran Status. American journal of preventive medicine. 2018 Jan 1; 54(1):e1-e9.

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• CDA 13-266 – Women Veterans' VA Maternity Care Utilization, Satisfaction, and Health Outcomes

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Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Population-based data on the prevalence, correlates, and treatment utilization of post-traumatic stress disorder by gender and veteran status are limited. With changes in post-traumatic stress disorder diagnostic criteria in 2013, current information from a uniform data source is needed. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, which consisted of in-person interviews that were conducted with a representative sample of U.S. adults. The Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-5 Version was used to assess past-year and lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans (n = 3,119) and civilians (n = 32,982). Data were analyzed from January to March 2017. RESULTS: Adjusting for age and race/ethnicity, women veterans reported the highest rates of lifetime and past-year post-traumatic stress disorder (13.4%, 95% CI = 8.8%, 17.9%, and 11.7%, 95% CI = 7.1%, 16.4%) compared with women civilians (8.0%, 95% CI = 7.4%, 8.6%, and 6.0%, 95% CI = 5.5%, 6.6%); men veterans (7.7%, 95% CI = 6.5%, 8.8%, and 6.7%, 95% CI = 5.7%, 7.8%); and men civilians (3.4%, 95% CI = 3.0%, 3.9%, and 2.6%, 95% CI = 2.2%, 2.9%). Traumatic event exposure, correlates of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder, and treatment seeking varied across subgroups. Men and women veterans were more likely than civilians to use a variety of treatment sources, with men civilians being least likely to seek treatment and men veterans exhibiting the longest delay in seeking treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common mental health disorder that varies by gender and veteran status. Women veterans'' high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder highlight a critical target for prevention and intervention, whereas understanding treatment barriers for men veterans and civilians is necessary.