329176
Traumatic Stress, Depression and Pain Disability in Military Service Members
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Andrea Repp, MA,
Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control, San Diego, CA
Steven Hanling, MD,
Department of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA
Vasudha Ram, MPH,
Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control, San Diego, CA
Scott Roesch, PhD,
Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control, San Diego, CA
Kartavya Vyas, MA,
Research Facilitation Department, Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control, San Diego, CA
Traumatic stress has been associated with increased depression, pain levels and disability which can impact overall quality of life. As many as half of those with pain disorders also have depression, which may magnify patients’ pain and stress levels. Understanding the influence of traumatic stress on disability levels is particularly concerning when providing quality healthcare for military service members. Data was collected from patients at Naval Medical Center San Diego Pain Management Clinic (N=326). To examine the unique contribution of age, sleep medications, military branch, depression and PTSD symptoms on disability outcomes as measured by Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ), a hierarchical multiple regression was performed with variables entered in 3 steps (Step 1: age, sleep medications, military branch; Step 2: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), PTSD Checklist –Military Version (PCL-M); Step 3: Negative Affect (NA) which combines PHQ and PCL scores). All variables were statistically significant predictors of PDQ scores (p >.05) with those who are younger (age: beta =-.20), on sleep medications (beta =.20), in the Army (beta =.15), have more depressive symptoms (beta =.38), higher PTSD symptoms (beta =.15) and higher NA (beta =.50) showing greater disability. Results help convey the impact of traumatic stress on disability and pain levels for military service members.
Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Describe how traumatic stress may influence severity of disability and perceived pain among military service members; Discuss the unique contribution of age, sleep medications, military branch, depression, and posttrauamtic stress disorder symptoms on disability outcomes.
Keyword(s): Disabilities, Mental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I received my master's degree in psychology from San Diego State Universiy in 2009. I have worked in the fields of psychology and mental health, particularly in regard to the military, for nearly 15 years. I have also presented numerous abstracts at international and national conferences and have published several peer-reviewed articles.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
