Alcohol dependence and mental health among LGBT persons in the US military

Background: In 2010, Congress voted to lift the restrictions on openly lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons serving in the US military. Methods: An internet-based survey was completed by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military personnel. A total of 226 participants, ages 18-73 (M=30), who served in the past five years completed the survey, which included the AUDIT to assess for alcohol dependence (scores >13 for women, >15 for men), and measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress-related growth. Results: The majority (75%) were active duty, and the sample was well distributed across military branches. Most (88%) identified as gay or lesbian; 63% were male, 31% female, and 6% transgender; 31% were racial/ethnicity minorities. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD were significantly associated (r's>.70, p<.001) and all three were significantly higher among those with alcohol dependence (p<.01). Logistic regression showed depression (AOR=3.04, p<.01) and PTSD (AOR=1.07, p<.05) significantly increased the odds of alcohol dependence while anxiety (AOR=0.29, p<.05) significantly decreased the odds. Stress-related growth (AOR=0.89, p<.01) was a significant predictor of decreased odds of alcohol dependence. Conclusions: Findings suggest a potential “syndemic” of interrelated problems – alcohol dependence, depression, anxiety, PTSD – facing LGBT military personnel. Increased efforts should focus on the assessment and provision of treatment for the mental health concerns of LGBT military personnel. Moreover, given that stress-related growth appears to mitigate the negative impact of psychological distress on alcohol dependence, this and other forms of resilience should be studied for ways they might buffer syndemic problems in this population.