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Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and health-related quality of life in OEF/OIF veterans

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Abstract

Purpose

Comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are often associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) combat veterans. The current study examines the individual contributions of these two disorders on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in an OEF/OIF cohort. The study hypothesizes that PTSD and depression will each significantly predict lower physical and mental HRQoL even when controlling for overlapping symptoms: anhedonia, concentration, and insomnia.

Method

Participants were 220 OEF/OIF combat veterans who completed an interview and self-report questionnaires examining study variables. All study hypotheses were tested with multiple regression analyses.

Results

PTSD and depression significantly contributed to mental and physical HRQoL, even after controlling for overlapping symptoms. However, while independent main effects of PTSD and depression, with and without overlapping symptoms, emerged for predicting mental HRQoL, no significant independent main effects emerged for predicting physical HRQoL.

Conclusion

Findings suggest PTSD and depression contribute uniquely to the negative relationship with HRQoL, adding to the growing literature on distinctive and common effects of these disorders in OEF/OIF veterans. Results highlight the need to better understand the implications for assessment and treatment.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

BDI-II:

Beck Depression Inventory II

CAPS:

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale

CES:

Combat Exposure Scale

HRQoL:

Health-related quality of life

OEF:

Operation Enduring Freedom

OIF:

Operation Iraqi Freedom

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

SF-36:

36-item Short-Form Health Survey

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Caroline Nievergelt, Ph.D., for her support with data management for this project. The authors also acknowledge Mr. Anthony Matthews and Mr. Joe Sturdivant for their efforts in support of this project. Dewleen Baker, M.D., is supported in part by the VA Research Grants (Merit, HSR&D and Cooperative Studies). James Pittman, MSW and Dr. Baker are supported, completely, and in part, respectively, by the VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, 3350 La Jolla Village, Drive MC 116A, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA

    James O. E. Pittman & Dewleen G. Baker

  2. Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA

    James O. E. Pittman, Abigail A. Goldsmith, Jennifer A. Lemmer & Dewleen G. Baker

  3. Veterans Affairs Desert Pacific Healthcare Network, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA

    Michael T. Kilmer

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, 9500 Gillman Drive MC 0603, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Dewleen G. Baker

Authors
  1. James O. E. Pittman
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  2. Abigail A. Goldsmith
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  3. Jennifer A. Lemmer
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  4. Michael T. Kilmer
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  5. Dewleen G. Baker
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Correspondence to James O. E. Pittman.

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Pittman, J.O.E., Goldsmith, A.A., Lemmer, J.A. et al. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and health-related quality of life in OEF/OIF veterans. Qual Life Res 21, 99–103 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9918-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9918-3

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