Fort Campbell Phase 4 Pilot
Abstract
Objectives and Rationale: Considerable research shows that a significant minority of individuals will develop mental health issues following exposure to potentially traumatic stress, such as combat. Recent estimates have found that approximately 20% of those serving in US Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite important advances made in the understanding and treatment of PTSD, to date, there is no prevention for PTSD and many individuals do not benefit from current therapeutic interventions. A growing body of evidence suggests that prevention programs and treatments will depend largely on a comprehensive understanding of the biological processes underlying adaptive and maladaptive responses to traumatic stress. In an effort to systematically understand how biological processes contribute to the mental health trajectories following exposure to combat, this group has been studying a cohort of US Army personnel from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. To date, 1,029 personnel were assessed pre-deployment and 1,793 individuals were assessed up to 6 months post-deployment. The data collected thus far is beginning to identify candidate genetic, blood, and neurocognitive markers that predict who does and does not develop PTSD pre- to post-deployment. The aim of this proposal is prepare for a long-term follow-up study of these individuals, in which an in-depth biological, neurocognitive, and psychological assessment will be carried out to identify which variables predict those who are resilient and those who develop PTSD. Before re-contacting the full sample, this proposal seeks to recruit 300 participants from the larger group. We seek to test individuals that fall into one of three trajectories: PTSD Symptom Group, Lower Resilience Group, and Higher Resilience Group. These individuals will be asked to complete a battery of psychological measures and neurocognitive tests, as well as participate in a blood draw, which will be for the examination of a wide range of biological variables. Method: The aim of this proposal is to re-engage with a subset of individuals that have been participating in the ongoing Fort Campbell study. This study will determine how best to predict different mental health trajectories following combat. Specifically, statistical analysis will be carried out to examine the contribution of biological, neurocognitive, and psychological variables in predicting mental health trajectories from pre-deployment to long-term follow-up. Successful pilot work will lay the groundwork for following all 1,793 Fort Campbell participants with the goals of advancing diagnostic biomarkers and identifying biological and psychological predictors and consequences of military PTSD among individuals who remain on active duty, including those who have been re-deployed since the index deployment in 2014, and those who have returned to civilian life. Specifically, this proposed pilot study will test 300 individuals that will be identified as High Resilience, Low Resilience, and PTSD Symptom Group. Participants will complete online battery of neurocognitive measures, and fasting blood will be drawn to assess gene expression, metabolomic, endocrine, inflammatory, and proteomic markers. Contributions and Benefits: While there are many studies of Veterans’ health and mental health, there are few studies with comprehensive biological variables that follow Veterans from pre- to post-deployment. Transition to civilian life has been associated with considerable stress and can exacerbate deployment PTSD and related mental health difficulties. Extending the follow-up study will allow the research team to link pre- and post-deployment stress to biological data in order to more effectively understand those factors that make military personnel most vulnerable and resilient to combat-related stress. These findings will not only lay the critical groundwork for identifying factors central
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1810726
Entities
People
- Charles Marmar
Organizations
- Grossman School of Medicine
- United States Army