A Ten-Year Look Back at the Association between the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and Costly Mental Health Conditions
Abstract
This study analyzes the effects of OEF/OIF deployment (including deployment location, frequency of deployment, and days deployed) on the probability of being diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. The authors examine active duty personnel in all four services of the U.S. armed services since the start of the Global War on Terrorism. The data are provided by the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and TRICARE; they include deployment, administrative, and medical information for all active duty service personnel between FY2001 and FY2011 (N=2,800,999). Separate analyses were conducted for each mental disorder, and for each branch of the armed services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force). Separate analyses for enlisted personnel and officers within each branch also were conducted. The authors used descriptive statistics as well as multivariate analysis (probit models) to assess the deployment effects. Results show that a deployment, especially to Iraq, is associated with an increased probability of being diagnosed with PTSD, and that the magnitude of the effect is higher for deployments after 2005 for the Army. Serving in combat-arms specialty fields also is associated with a higher probability of being diagnosed with PTSD among Army and Marine Corps service members. Deployment is associated with a lower probability of diagnosis for bipolar disorder. The total cases of schizophrenia among active duty service members is very low; thus, this condition is excluded from the multivariate analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA573940
Entities
People
- Boon Him Lim
- Yun F. Liew
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School