Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109468

Nikki N. Jordan, MPH¹, Jennifer L. Auchterlonie, MS², Charles Hoge, MD, Col³, and Samuel S. Jang, DO, MPH¹. (1) Directorate of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, ATTN: MCHB-TS-DPH, 5158 Blackhawk Rd, APG-Edgewood, MD 21010-5403, 410-436-1001, Nikki.Jordan@us.army.mil, (2) Army Medical Surveillance Activity, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, 6900 Georgia Ave NW, 5158 Blackhawk Rd, Washington, DC 20307-5001, (3) Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Background: The Pentagon Post Disaster Health Assessment (PPDHA), administered to Pentagon personnel within 4 months of the 9/11 attack, employed a newly developed mental health screening tool designed for rapid detection of individuals at increased risk of PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and alcohol abuse. The screening tool has since demonstrated substantial construct validity in terms of self-reported functional impairment and use of counseling. Objective: To assess the survey's predictive validity based upon future psychological outcomes. Methods: Medical records for the PPDHA's active duty respondents 1 year prior to the attack and within 18 months afterward were linked with survey data. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the screening tool's ability to predict diagnosed mental disorders. Results: Among 1812 active duty survey respondents, approximately 29% met the PPDHA screening criteria for high risk of the mental health outcomes examined. There was a statistically significant association between the screening algorithms used and diagnosed mental disorders post 9/11 (Adjusted OR=2.2, 95%CI: 1.5-3.3). Additional factors predictive of post 9/11 mental disorders included female gender, younger age, Army affiliation, enlisted status, history of mental health treatment, 9/11 injury, and witnessing a 9/11 death/injury. Conclusion: Rapid and effective evaluation of mental health outcomes due to traumatic events is essential for expediting appropriate care. Results from this study demonstrate that the PPDHA's mental health screening tool has predictive validity, and could serve as a template for future rapid needs assessments. However, further validation studies incorporating sensitivity/specificity testing are warranted.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Apply techniques used to identify individuals exposed to a traumatic event who are at high risk for PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety, and alcohol abuse.
• Describe methods used to assess the predictive validity of screening tools.
• List predictors of risk for diagnosed mental disorders among the traumatized population evaluated.

Keywords: Mental Health, Screening Instruments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.