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Mental health symptoms in combat medic training: a longitudinal examination.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Robinson, ME; Teyhen, DS; Wu, SS; Dugan, JL; Wright, AC; Childs, JD; Yang, G; George, SZ
Published in: Mil Med
June 2009

Mental health symptoms in military populations are rising and constitute a significant health concern. This study examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in soldiers (N = 3,792) undergoing combat medic training. At the start of training, 10.4%, 15.5%, and 4.1% of soldiers had clinically significant depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation, respectfully. These percentages increased to 12.2%, 20.3%, and 5.7% at completion of training, respectfully. Worsening of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation occurred for 7.7%, 11.4%, and 4% of soldiers. Higher percentages of symptoms were associated with females, lower education, and lower income. Active duty personnel were more likely to worsen following training with respect to suicidal ideation (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2-2.9) compared to reservists. The identification of these significant predictors of mental health status may serve to identify individuals at risk. Additional work to examine the relative contribution of anticipatory (impending deployment) factors vs. training-related factors is warranted.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mil Med

DOI

ISSN

0026-4075

Publication Date

June 2009

Volume

174

Issue

6

Start / End Page

572 / 577

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Warfare
  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Texas
  • Suicide
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
  • Psychometrics
  • Odds Ratio
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Robinson, M. E., Teyhen, D. S., Wu, S. S., Dugan, J. L., Wright, A. C., Childs, J. D., … George, S. Z. (2009). Mental health symptoms in combat medic training: a longitudinal examination. Mil Med, 174(6), 572–577. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-02-4108
Robinson, Michael E., Deydre S. Teyhen, Samuel S. Wu, Jessica L. Dugan, Alison C. Wright, John D. Childs, Guijun Yang, and Steven Z. George. “Mental health symptoms in combat medic training: a longitudinal examination.Mil Med 174, no. 6 (June 2009): 572–77. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-02-4108.
Robinson ME, Teyhen DS, Wu SS, Dugan JL, Wright AC, Childs JD, et al. Mental health symptoms in combat medic training: a longitudinal examination. Mil Med. 2009 Jun;174(6):572–7.
Robinson, Michael E., et al. “Mental health symptoms in combat medic training: a longitudinal examination.Mil Med, vol. 174, no. 6, June 2009, pp. 572–77. Pubmed, doi:10.7205/milmed-d-02-4108.
Robinson ME, Teyhen DS, Wu SS, Dugan JL, Wright AC, Childs JD, Yang G, George SZ. Mental health symptoms in combat medic training: a longitudinal examination. Mil Med. 2009 Jun;174(6):572–577.

Published In

Mil Med

DOI

ISSN

0026-4075

Publication Date

June 2009

Volume

174

Issue

6

Start / End Page

572 / 577

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Warfare
  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Texas
  • Suicide
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
  • Psychometrics
  • Odds Ratio