Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Primary Care Provider-Diagnosed Disease Among Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

Abstract

PTSD is associated with increased prevalence and onset of physical disease among OEF/OIF veterans within the early years post military service. Rising rates of PTSD may foreshadow an increase in lifespan morbidity and healthcare utilization in the coming years among OEF/OIF veterans.

Physical activity in postdeployment Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans using Department of Veterans Affairs services

“…Moreover, U.S. veterans who have spent time in theater often experience mental illnesses, pain syndromes, and musculoskeletal complaints [8][9][10][11][12]. These represent independent risk factors for sedentary behavior and obesity and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Reducing Barriers to Mental Health and Social Services for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: Outcomes of an Integrated Primary Care Clinic

“…The prevalence of mental health disorders has steadily increased: between 18.5% and 42% of OEF/OIF veterans are estimated to suffer from deployment-related mental health problems [2][3][4] . Further, mental health diagnoses in this population are typically comorbid with other mental and physical disorders [5][6][7][8] , resulting in a significant public health burden [9][10][11][12] . Despite population-based mental health screening by the military and VA 13 , most OEF/OIF veterans with mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), do not access or receive an adequate course of mental health treatment 3,4,14,15 .…”

Healthcare utilization and costs of Veterans screened and assessed for traumatic brain injury

“…PTSD has been identified as the most common mental health condition [26] frequently occurring among servicemembers who experienced deployment-related blast and nonblast TBI [27][28]. Moreover, OIF/OEF Veterans with PTSD have been found to have an overall burden of illness that is greater than among Veterans without mental health conditions [29][30].…”