TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental health diagnosis and occupational functioning in National Guard/Reserve veterans returning from Iraq
AU - Erbes, Christopher R
AU - Kaler, Matthew E.
AU - Schult, Tamara
AU - Polusny, Melissa A
AU - Arbisi, Paul A
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Occupational functioning represents both an important outcome for military servicemembers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom and a predictor for long-term mental health functioning. We investigated the role of mental health diagnoses, determined by structured clinical interviews, on occupational functioning in a group of 262 National Guard/Reserve servicemembers within 1 year of returning from a 16-month OIF combat deployment. We assessed occupational functioning at the time of diagnostic interviews and 1 year later. We hypothesized that servicemembers with diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and/or alcohol abuse or dependence would exhibit lower rates of employment at both time points and lower rates of reported work and/or school role functioning. Servicemembers with a diagnosis of PTSD (5%, n = 13), subthreshold PTSD (6%, n = 15), a major depressive disorder (11%, n = 29), or alcohol abuse or dependence (11%, n = 28) did not differ on employment status from servicemembers without a diagnosis at either time point. However, those with a diagnosis of PTSD, depression, and/or alcohol abuse or dependence reported lower levels of work role functioning. In addition, servicemembers with a diagnosis of PTSD reported greater rates of deterioration in work role functioning over time.
AB - Occupational functioning represents both an important outcome for military servicemembers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom and a predictor for long-term mental health functioning. We investigated the role of mental health diagnoses, determined by structured clinical interviews, on occupational functioning in a group of 262 National Guard/Reserve servicemembers within 1 year of returning from a 16-month OIF combat deployment. We assessed occupational functioning at the time of diagnostic interviews and 1 year later. We hypothesized that servicemembers with diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and/or alcohol abuse or dependence would exhibit lower rates of employment at both time points and lower rates of reported work and/or school role functioning. Servicemembers with a diagnosis of PTSD (5%, n = 13), subthreshold PTSD (6%, n = 15), a major depressive disorder (11%, n = 29), or alcohol abuse or dependence (11%, n = 28) did not differ on employment status from servicemembers without a diagnosis at either time point. However, those with a diagnosis of PTSD, depression, and/or alcohol abuse or dependence reported lower levels of work role functioning. In addition, servicemembers with a diagnosis of PTSD reported greater rates of deterioration in work role functioning over time.
KW - Alcohol abuse or dependence
KW - Combat deployment
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Depression
KW - Employment
KW - Mental health
KW - National Guard
KW - Occupational functioning
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - Work role functioning
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U2 - 10.1682/JRRD.2010.11.0212
DO - 10.1682/JRRD.2010.11.0212
M3 - Article
C2 - 22234661
AN - SCOPUS:84855898070
SN - 0748-7711
VL - 48
SP - 1159
EP - 1170
JO - Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
IS - 10
ER -