Relationships of Stress Exposures to Health in Gulf War Veterans
Abstract
Research on Gulf War (6W) illnesses leaves many questions unanswered about diagnostic syndromes of 6W illnesses, dimensions of stressor exposures encountered by 6W veterans, relations among stressor exposures and GW syndromes or symptoms, and factors that may mediate these relationships. The proposed study has five key aims intended to address these gaps and enhance understanding of illnesses reported by 6W veterans: (1) to identify and examine dimensions of illnesses and health problems commonly reported by 6W veterans; (2) to assess exposures to environmental toxins and psychosocial stresses comprehensively and to identify the dimensions of these exposures; (3) to examine the extent to which particular types of dimensions of exposure experienced during deployment and participation in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (ODS/S) are associated with the commonly reported and undefined post-war health problems of 6W veterans; (4) to clarify how preliminary and predeployment adversities, risk factors, and protective factors affect 6W illness outcomes; (5) to examine the mediating role of post-ODS/S factors (e.g., instrumental and emotional social support, general psychological functioning, specific comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) on 6W illness outcomes. These aims will be achieved by obtaining in-depth data from a national probability sample of 6W veterans, including men and women in active and reserve components.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA420074
Entities
People
- John A. Fairbank
Organizations
- Duke University Hospital