Drug use and childhood-, military- and post-military trauma exposure among women and men veterans.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND: The current study was undertaken to examine whether posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms mediated the association between trauma exposure (combat-related trauma and non-combat traumas occurring before, during, and after military service), and drug abuse symptoms use among male and female veterans. METHODS: Participants were 2304 (1851 male, 453 female) veterans who took part in a multi-site research study conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC). Path analytic models were used to determine the association between problematic past-year drug use and combat-related and non-combat trauma experienced before, during, or after the military and whether current post-traumatic stress symptoms or depressive symptoms mediated these associations. RESULTS: For both male and female veterans, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of pre- and post-military trauma on drug abuse symptoms. CONCLUSION: Mental health providers who work with trauma-exposed Iraq and Afghanistan era veterans should assess for drug use, depressive symptoms, and life-span trauma (i.e., not only combat-related traumas) as part of a thorough trauma-based assessment for both men and women.
Full Text
Duke Authors
- Beckham, Jean Crowell
- Brancu, Mira
- Calhoun, Patrick Shields
- Curry, John F.
- Dedert, Eric
- Elbogen, Eric Bradley
- Fairbank, John A.
- Kilts, Jason David
- Marx, Christine Elizabeth
- Moore, Scott Daniel
- Morey, Rajendra A.
- Naylor, Jennifer C.
- Runnals, Jennifer J.
- Strauss, Jennifer Leigh
- Tupler, Larry A.
- Weiner, Richard David
Cited Authors
- Kelley, ML; Brancu, M; Robbins, AT; D'Lima, GM; Strauss, JL; Curry, JF; Fairbank, JA; Runnals, J; VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Women Veterans Workgroup, VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup,
Published Date
- July 1, 2015
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 152 /
Start / End Page
- 201 - 208
PubMed ID
- 25957156
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1879-0046
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.03.038
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- Ireland