Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among caregivers after deployment to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: A prospective analysis

Background: The association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and exposure to trauma among health care workers has been documented in both civilian and military populations. To date, only limited cross-sectional studies have been conducted to assess PTSD or depression among caregivers deployed in support of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Methods: The Millennium Cohort Study was designed to prospectively evaluate the long-term health effects of military service on health over a period of 21 years. Baseline data collected from July 2001 to June 2003 and follow-up data collected from June 2004 to February 2006 contain information on military occupation, depression, PTSD, and trauma exposure. Additionally, deployment data were available from electronic military records. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine the risk of new-onset PTSD and depression among deployed caregivers with combat exposures compared with those deployed without combat exposures and those who were not deployed.

Results: Of the 55,000 Millennium Cohort participants with longitudinal data, approximately 25% have deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. About half of those who deployed were exposed to combat or trauma. Analyses are ongoing.

Conclusions: Quantifying the risk of PTSD and depression among caregivers is critical to understanding the scope of mental health problems occurring among service members during and following deployment. Results may point to the need for programs to help caregivers identify and cope with mental health challenges of their own.