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The role of stress sensitization in progression of posttraumatic distress following deployment

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Abstract

Purpose

Military personnel exposed to combat are at risk for experiencing post-traumatic distress that can progress over time following deployment. We hypothesized that progression of post-traumatic distress may be related to enhanced susceptibility to post-deployment stressors. This study aimed at examining the concept of stress sensitization prospectively in a sample of Dutch military personnel deployed in support of the conflicts in Afghanistan.

Method

In a cohort of soldiers (N = 814), symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed before deployment as well as 2, 7, 14, and 26 months (N = 433; 53 %) after their return. Data were analyzed using latent growth modeling. Using multiple group analysis, we examined whether high combat stress exposure during deployment moderated the relation between post-deployment stressors and linear change in post-traumatic distress after deployment.

Results

A higher baseline level of post-traumatic distress was associated with more early life stressors (standardized regression coefficient = 0.30, p < 0.001). In addition, a stronger increase in posttraumatic distress during deployment was associated with more deployment stressors (standardized coefficient = 0.21, p < 0.001). A steeper linear increase in posttraumatic distress post-deployment (from 2 to 26 months) was predicted by more post-deployment stressors (standardized coefficient = 0.29, p < 0.001) in high combat stress exposed soldiers, but not in a less combat stress exposed group. The group difference in the predictive effect of post-deployment stressors on progression of post-traumatic distress was significant (χ²(1) = 7.85, p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Progression of post-traumatic distress following combat exposure may be related to sensitization to the effects of post-deployment stressors during the first year following return from deployment.

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Acknowledgments

Funded by a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Defense. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. Geert E. Smid, MD, PhD had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The authors thank Col. Kees IJzerman, MD, MPH for his valuable comments and the commanders and troops for their time and effort. The authors also thank Kim Kroezen, Anne Muilwijk, Capt. Maurits Baatenburg de Jong, Capt. Jessie Smulders, Lt. Martijn Derks, and Sgt. Loes van den Boomen for organizing the data acquisition.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foundation Centrum’45/Arq, Nienoord 5, 1112 XE, Diemen, The Netherlands

    Geert E. Smid & Rolf J. Kleber

  2. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Rolf J. Kleber

  3. Research Centre-Military Mental Health, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Arthur R. Rademaker, Mirjam van Zuiden & Eric Vermetten

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Mirjam van Zuiden

  5. Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Mirjam van Zuiden

  6. Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neurosciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Eric Vermetten

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  1. Geert E. Smid
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Correspondence to Geert E. Smid.

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Smid, G.E., Kleber, R.J., Rademaker, A.R. et al. The role of stress sensitization in progression of posttraumatic distress following deployment. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1743–1754 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0709-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0709-8

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