Patient factors relating to detection of posttraumatic stress disorder in Department of Veterans Affairs primary care settings

Which veterans with PTSD are most likely to report being told of their diagnosis?

Veterans who do not know about their posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis experience a fundamental barrier to accessing effective treatment. Little is known about the characteristics that influence veterans' PTSD diagnosis knowledge (i.e., report of being told they have a PTSD diagnosis by a healthcare provider). Veterans who met probable and provisional criteria for PTSD on the self-report PTSD checklist for DSM-5 were identified from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study (n = 2335). Weighted logistic regression was performed to identify demographic variables, clinical characteristics, and social determinants of health (e.g., economic instability, homelessness, healthcare coverage) associated with PTSD diagnosis knowledge among post-9/11 veterans. Approximately 62% of veterans with probable and provisional PTSD had PTSD diagnosis knowledge. Predictors with the strongest associations included another mental health diagnosis (OR = 6.10, CI95:4.58,8.12) and having Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare coverage (OR = 2.63, CI95:1.97,3.51). Veterans with combat or sexual trauma were more likely to have PTSD diagnosis knowledge than those with different trauma types. Results suggest veterans with VA healthcare coverage and military-related trauma are more likely to be informed by a healthcare professional about a PTSD diagnosis. Further research is needed to improve PTSD diagnosis knowledge for those with non-military-related trauma and those without VA healthcare coverage.

Primary Care Providers' Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practice of Trauma-Informed Care in a Public Health Care Setting

Despite serving patients with especially high rates of trauma exposure and related sequelae, many primary care providers do not receive specialized training in the provision of trauma-informed care (TIC). This study sought to document primary care providers' baseline rates of TIC training and their knowledge, perceptions, and practice of TIC at a large, urban public hospital in the Southeastern United States. Participants (n = 67; 68.7% women; 44.8% white; Mage = 36.7 years, standard deviation [SD]age = 9.8 years) completed an online self-report survey on their TIC training status, trauma-related knowledge, perceptions, and practices, as well as burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Less than half of participants (43.3%) endorsed TIC training exposure. Participants generally had adequate levels of trauma-related knowledge (76.5% of items correct) and favorable perceptions of TIC (endorsed 89.7% of TIC-supportive statements). Most participants (86.6%) endorsed recently using trauma-informed practices, but only 47.8% reported routinely screening for trauma-related disorders. Participants who reported receiving prior TIC training scored better on knowledge items and endorsed recently using more trauma-informed practices than those who did not have training exposure. TIC training status' associations with current screening practices and perceptions of TIC were trending toward significance. TIC training status was not related to burnout, and trained participants reported greater secondary traumatic stress than those without training exposure. Results point to system-wide TIC training as a well-received, translational strategy that can enhance the trauma-informed nature of primary care provision.

Not recognized enough: The effects and associations of trauma and intellectual disability in severely mentally ill outpatients

Background:

Little is known about the association between trauma and intellectual disability in SMI patients.

Aim:

To establish the prevalence of trauma and its association with intellectual functioning in SMI outpatients.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in two mental health trusts in the Netherlands. We used the Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ) to screen for trauma and PTSD, and the Screener for Intelligence and Learning disabilities (SCIL) for suspected MID/BIF. Chi-square and t-tests were used to test differences in outcome over patient characteristics. Post-hoc analysis was used to investigate gender differences between patients with and without MID/BIF on trauma and sexual trauma.

Results:

Any trauma was found in 86% of 570 patients and 42% were suspected for PTSD. The SCIL suggested that 40% had Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF), half of whom were suspected of having Mild Intellectual Disability (MID). These patients had more traumatic experiences (1.89 in BIF, 1.75 in MID, against 1.41 in SCIL-negative patients). Female MID/BIF patients (61%) had experienced significantly more sexual abuse than male MID/BIF patients (23%).

Conclusions:

Significantly more SMI outpatients who screened positive for MID/BIF reported having experienced traumatic events than those who screened negative. Rates of all trauma categories were significantly higher in the screen-positive group, who were also more likely to have PTSD. Sexual abuse occurred more in all females but the SCIL positive women are even more often victim. Clinical practice has to pay more attention to all of these issues, especially when they occur together in a single patient.

Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Related to Diabetes and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

OBJECTIVES

To examine relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among older men and women.

METHODS

In a national retrospective cohort study of Veterans aged ≥55 (n=2,789,264, 6% female), associations between PTSD and diabetes (2008-2011) and incident CVD (2012-2015) were assessed with gender-stratified Fine-Gray proportional hazard models, adjusted for demographics and medical comorbidities.

RESULTS

Incident CVD was observed in 22% of men and 12% of women, and related to PTSD (men HR=1.05, 95% CI=1.04-1.06, Wald χ2=80.46, df=1, p<.001; women HR=1.47, 95% CI=1.38-1.57, Wald χ2=148.60, df=1, p<.001), diabetes (men HR=1.34, 95% CI=1.34-1.35, Wald χ2=9177.64, df=1, p<.001; women HR=1.49, 95% CI=1.44-1.55, Wald χ2=419.02, df=1, p<.001), and comorbid PTSD-diabetes (men HR=1.50, 95% CI=1.48-1.52, Wald χ2=4180.92, df=1, p<.001; women HR=1.96, 95% CI=1.80-2.12, Wald χ2=257.28, df=1, p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

CVD risk was increased with PTSD and diabetes, and strongly increased with comorbid PTSD-diabetes. Among women, PTSD and diabetes conferred equivalent CVD risk.

Chronic Pain Types Differ in Their Reported Prevalence of Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and There Is Consistent Evidence That Chronic Pain Is Associated with PTSD: An Evidence-Based Structured Systematic Review

Objectives

The hypotheses of this systematic review were the following: 1) Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will differ between various types of chronic pain (CP), and 2) there will be consistent evidence that CP is associated with PTSD.

Methods

Of 477 studies, 40 fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria of this review and were grouped according to the type of CP. The reported prevalence of PTSD for each grouping was determined by aggregating all the patients in all the studies in that group. Additionally all patients in all groupings were combined. Percentage of studies that had found an association between CP and PTSD was determined. The consistency of the evidence represented by the percentage of studies finding an association was rated according to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guidelines.

Results

Grouping PTSD prevalence differed ranging from a low of 0.69% for chronic low back pain to a high of 50.1% in veterans. Prevalence in the general population with CP was 9.8%. Of 19 studies, 16 had found an association between CP and PTSD (84.2%) generating an A consistency rating (consistent multiple studies). Three of the groupings had an A or B (generally consistent) rating. The veterans grouping received a C (finding inconsistent) rating.

Conclusion

The results of this systematic review confirmed the hypotheses of this review.

Recognition of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in patients with COPD and CHF: Who gets missed?

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to identify patient factors associated with mental health (MH) recognition and treatment in medically ill Veterans.

METHOD

Retrospective data from patient electronic medical records (EMR) and self-report data were reviewed for 180 Veterans with cardiopulmonary conditions who met diagnostic criteria for anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Multivariate logistic regression examined the association of medical record MH recognition and MH service use with patient factors, including anxiety and depression severity, self-efficacy, locus of control, coping, illness intrusiveness, and health-related quality of life (QOL).

RESULTS

Seventy veterans (39%) had an MH diagnosis documented in their EMR, and 101 (56%) received at least one MH service (≥1 MH encounter or psychiatric medications). Greater depression (p=0.047) and adaptive coping (p=0.012) were associated with increased likelihood of EMR documentation of MH diagnoses. EMR MH diagnosis (p<0.001), higher internal locus of control (p=0.037), and poorer physical health-related QOL (p=0.014) were associated with greater likelihood of MH service use.

DISCUSSION

Veterans with cardiopulmonary conditions experiencing MH problems are under-recognized. Improved MH screening is needed, particularly for patients with poor adaptive coping skills, low internal locus of control, or poor physical health-related QOL.

Military Sexual Trauma and Suicide Mortality

INTRODUCTION

The Veterans Health Administration health system uses a clinical reminder in the medical record to screen for military sexual trauma. For more than 6 million Veterans, this study assessed associations between military sexual trauma screen results and subsequent suicide mortality.

METHODS

For Veterans who received Veterans Health Administration services in fiscal years 2007-2011 and were screened for military sexual trauma (5,991,080 men; 360,774 women), proportional hazards regressions evaluated associations between military sexually trauma and suicide risk. Models were adjusted for age, rural residence, medical morbidity, and psychiatric conditions, obtained from medical records at the year military sexual trauma screening occurred. Analyses were conducted in 2014.

RESULTS

Military sexual trauma was reported by 1.1% of men and 21.2% of women. A total of 9,017 Veterans completed suicide during the follow-up period. Hazard ratios for military sexual trauma were 1.69 (95% CI=1.45, 1.97) among men and 2.27 (95% CI=1.76, 2.94) among women. Suicide risk associated with military sexual trauma remained significantly elevated in adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS

Study results are among the first population-based investigations to document sexual trauma as a risk factor for suicide mortality. Military sexual trauma represents a clinical indicator for suicide prevention in the Veterans Health Administration. Results suggest the importance of continued assessments regarding military sexual trauma and suicide risks and of collaboration between military sexual trauma-related programs and suicide prevention efforts. Moreover, military sexual trauma should be considered in suicide prevention strategies even among individuals without documented psychiatric morbidity.

Etiology of depression comorbidity in combat-related PTSD: a review of the literature

Posttraumatic stress disorder is often diagnosed with other mental health problems, particularly depression. Although PTSD comorbidity has been associated with more severe and chronic symptomology, relationships among commonly co-occurring disorders are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to review the literature regarding the development of depression comorbid with combat-related PTSD among military personnel. We summarize results of commonly tested hypotheses about the etiology of PTSD and depression comorbidity, including (1) causal hypotheses, (2) common factor hypotheses, and (3) potential confounds. Evidence suggests that PTSD may be a causal risk factor for subsequent depression; however, associations are likely complex, involving bidirectional causality, common risk factors, and common vulnerabilities. The unique nature of PTSD-depression comorbidity in the context of military deployment and combat exposure is emphasized. Implications of our results for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

PTSD in primary care--an update on evidence-based management

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in primary care but it is frequently not detected or treated adequately. There is insufficient evidence to recommend universal screening for PTSD in primary care, but clinicians should remain alert to PTSD among patients exposed to trauma, and among those with other psychiatric disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple somatic symptoms and chronic pain. A two-stage process of screening (involving the PC-PTSD), and, for those with a positive screen, a diagnostic evaluation (using the PTSD-Checklist), can detect most patients with PTSD with few false positives. Evidence-based recommendations are provided for treatment in primary care or referral to mental health.

Health care utilization among veterans with pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms

OBJECTIVE

To examine health care utilization among veterans with both chronic pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 40,716 veterans in a VA regional network from January 1, 2002 to January 1, 2007. Veterans were categorized into pain-only, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD)-only, and pain plus PTSD (pain+PTSD) comparison groups. Negative binomial models were used to compare adjusted rates of primary care, mental health, and specialty pain service use, as well as opioids, benzodiazepines, nonopioid analgesics, and antidepressant prescriptions. Rates of clinic visits were calculated by days per year, and rates of medication use were calculated by prescription months per year. Participants were followed for a mean duration of 47 months.

RESULTS

Participants were 94.7% men and had a mean age of 58.9 years. Nearly all used primary care (99.2%), 37.1% used pain-related specialty care, and 33.8% used mental health services. Nonopioid and opioid analgesics were the most commonly used medications (63.7% and 53.8%, respectively). Except for mental health visits, which did not differ between PTSD-only and pain+PTSD groups, the pain+PTSD group used significantly more of all categories of health care services than the pain-only and PTSD-only groups. For example, the pain+PTSD group had 7% more primary care visits (rate ratio [RR]=1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 1.09) than the pain-only group and 46% more primary care visits than the PTSD-only group (RR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.40, 1.52). Adjusted rates of opioid, benzodiazepine, nonopioid analgesic, and antidepressant prescriptions were higher for the pain+PTSD group than either of the comparison groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support our expectation that veterans with both pain and PTSD symptoms use more health care services than those with pain or PTSD symptoms alone. Research is needed to assess the health care costs associated with increases in health care utilization among these veterans.

The role of pain, functioning, and mental health in suicidality among Veterans Affairs primary care patients

OBJECTIVES

We examined suicidality, pain, functioning, and psychiatric disorders among veterans in primary care by using both self-report and clinical measures of pain and mental health to determine correlates that might be clinically useful in primary care settings.

METHODS

Data were from 884 Veterans Affairs patients enrolled in a regional 4-site cross-sectional study. Patients were administered measures that assessed functioning (including pain) and psychiatric disorders. Data were merged with medical records for clinical pain indicators.

RESULTS

Overall, 9.1% (74 of 816) of patients indicated suicidal ideation, with those who were middle-aged, unemployed because of disability, had less than college education, and served in a warzone most likely to consider suicidality. Suicidal patients had worse functioning (measured by the Short Form-36) than did nonsuicidal patients in every domain, including bodily pain, and were more likely to meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. However, when pain and mental health were jointly considered, only mental health (both psychiatric diagnosis and mental health functioning) was related to suicidality.

CONCLUSIONS

Although providers should be alert to the possibility of suicidality in patients with pain, they should be vigilant when patients have a psychiatric disorder or poor mental health.

The impact of Purple Heart commendation and PTSD on mortality rates in older veterans

BACKGROUND

To determine whether having received a Purple Heart (PH) or having been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affected mortality in older veterans.

METHODS

We compared mortality rates of older veterans with a PH but without PTSD (PH+/PTSD-) to veterans with a PH and PTSD (PH+/PTSD+), veterans without a PH but with PTSD (PH-/PTSD+), and a comparison group without a PH or PTSD (PH-/PTSD-). Administrative data from the Veterans Integrated Service Network 16 were collected between 10/01/97 and 09/30/99 for veterans who were 65 years or older. Proportional hazards regression was used to compare the survival times for the four groups (n = 10,255) from entry into the study until death or study termination (9/30/2008). The Charleson co-morbidity index was used to control for potential co-morbid illness burden differences between the groups.

RESULTS

Older veterans with a PH (PH+/PTSD- and PH+/PTSD+) had significantly lower mortality rates than PH-/PTSD- veterans (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5 to 0.6, P<.0001; and HR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.7, P<.0001). The PH-/PTSD+ group had a higher mortality rate than the PH-/PTSD- group (HR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.2, P<.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Veterans who had PH citations and survived into their seventh decade had half the mortality rate of veterans without PH citations with or without PTSD. Veterans with PTSD but without a PH had a significantly higher mortality rate compared to (PH-/PTSD-). Veterans who suffer combat injury without developing PTSD may provide a useful study population for determining the factors that confer resilience.

Evaluating and managing adult PTSD in primary care

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder with a sustained and dysfunctional emotional reaction to a traumatic event, threat of injury or death, and pain.

Military-related sexual trauma among Veterans Health Administration patients returning from Afghanistan and Iraq

We examined military-related sexual trauma among deployed Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans. Of 125 729 veterans who received Veterans Health Administration primary care or mental health services, 15.1% of the women and 0.7% of the men reported military sexual trauma when screened. Military sexual trauma was associated with increased odds of a mental disorder diagnosis, including posttraumatic stress disorder, other anxiety disorders, depression, and substance use disorders. Sexual trauma is an important postdeployment mental health issue in this population.