The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55352

Nina S. Wampler, DSc, MPH¹, Dedra Buchwald, MD², Janette Beals, PhD¹, Jack Goldberg, PhD², and Spero Manson, PhD¹. (1) Division of American Indian and Alaska Native Programs, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, PO Box 6508, Mail Stop F800, Nighthorse Campbell Native Health Building, Aurora, CO 80045-0508, 781-275-4391, nina.wampler@uchsc.edu, (2) Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Ave, Box 359780, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104

The objective of this study was to compare the nature and extent of self-reported physical health problems in the past year and health status in American Indian veterans with and without PTSD. The American Indian Vietnam Veterans Project was a lay-administered interview that gathered psychiatric diagnosis, and information on military service, healthcare use, and medical conditions. The population-based sample of 583 male American Indian Vietnam theater veterans were from 3 Northern Plains and a Southwest reservation community. Veterans with PTSD reported more respiratory problems, arthritis, heart/circulatory problems, chronic skin conditions, hearing difficulties, seizures disorders, and permanent deformity of the back or lower extremity (all p’s < 0.01). They also suffered more self-reported medical conditions (mean 3.6 vs. 2.2, p < 0.001), had been more often wounded in Vietnam, perceived their health as worse, had more functional limitations, higher rates of alcohol abuse/dependence, depressive and anxiety disorders, and greater use of health services than men without PTSD (all p’s < 0.001). Multivariate models revealed that Northern Plains veterans with PTSD were 3.4 times as likely as those without PTSD to report more medical conditions; among Southwestern veterans, PTSD was not linked to number of medical conditions. This is the first study to demonstrate that the association between PTSD and medical problems can vary by race/ethnicity or tribe. Future studies of minorities should use cohort studies and physician-confirmed diagnoses to confirm our findings.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Identify medical conditions associated with PTSD in American Indian Vietnam theater veterans from 2 Northern Plains and 1 Southwest tribe;
• Recognize the adjusted effect of PTSD on the count of medical conditions among Northern Plains American Indian veterans and among Southwest American Indian veterans.

Keywords: Native Americans, Psychiatric Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.