Parental Iraq/Afghanistan deployment and child psychiatric hospitalization in the US military

Objective: Members of the US armed forces have been heavily deployed in support of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This study examined the affect of a parent\u27s deployment to war on the rate of psychiatric hospitalization among their children. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Records of children of active duty personnel during fiscal years 2007 through 2009 were linked with their parent\u27s deployment records. Psychiatric hospitalizations were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes on admission. Odds ratios (OR) of hospitalization were determined using both univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Lengths of hospital stay were also compared by linear regression using Duan\u27s smearing estimate method. Results: A total of 377,565 children aged 9–17 years were included along with data on both their active duty and civilian parent. Mean child age was 12.53 years (S.D.: 2.5 years); 51% were male. Mean age of active duty parent was 37.8 years (S.D.: 5.2 years); 93% were male, 90% were married and 62% were white. In the study, 2533 children were hospitalized for a mental or behavioral health disorder in fiscal year 2009 with a median length of stay of 8 days. After adjusting for demographic data and past psychiatric history of the child, active duty parent and civilian parent, the OR of hospitalization for children with a recently deployed parent was 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.19). The OR of hospitalization increased with increasing length of deployment with a positive test of trend. There was no statistically significant difference in distribution of admission diagnoses or length of hospital stay based on deployment by the active duty parent. Conclusions: Psychiatric hospitalization increased by 10% among children aged 9–17 years when a military parent was recently deployed. The odds of hospitalization increased with increasing length of a parent\u27s deploymen

Pre-service factors associated with sexual misconduct among male U.S. Marines

Purpose Sexual assault is a prevalent and persistent problem in the military, yet few studies have examined predictors of sexual offenses. The study aim was to determine pre-service factors associated with sexual offense conviction among U.S. Marines. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from male active duty U.S. Marines (2003–2018). Pre-service factors were assessed using survey data from the Recruit Assessment Program, obtained prior to recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. These survey data were linked with sexual offense conviction data obtained from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Consolidated Law Enforcement Operations Center. Results Of the 146,307 participants, the majority were 18–19 years old (66.7%) and non-Hispanic, White (62.1%) with a high school education or less (76.8%); 107 received convictions for a sexual offense. In unadjusted analyses, race and ethnicity, parental education, type of primary caregiver, parental death, family economic status, childhood emotional trauma, childhood physical abuse, childhood sexual abuse, and unprotected sex were associated with a sexual offense conviction. In the final multivariable model, race and ethnicity (American Indian/Alaskan Native, odds ratio [OR]: 5.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86–14.98; Hispanic, OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.06–3.18; multiracial/other, OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.56–6.89), education (≤ high school, OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.21–5.80), parental death (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.16–4.45), unprotected sex (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.03–3.05), and school suspension/expulsion (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.02–2.65) were significant predictors of a subsequent sexual offense conviction. Conclusions Results underscore the importance of understanding factors associated with sexual offense and highlight the large discrepancy between self-reported estimates of sexual assault and sexual offense convictions. Findings may inform the development of effective strategies to reduce sexual misconduct, such as technology-facilitated programs that provide private, targeted education; supportive assistance; and prevention materials to individuals who may have elevated sexual misconduct risk

Bridging Music and Military Mental Health: A Pilot Study Examining Music Interventions in the Military Outpatient Mental Health Waiting Room Environment

Music is shown to assist in reducing patient anxiety and distress in civilian medical environments. There is a dearth of research, however, examining how music therapeutics impacts patients in a military context. As such, researchers at Naval Medical Center San Diego performed a pilot study examining the effect of music on patients at a military out-patient mental health clinic. Using a quasi-experimental design, with quantitative and qualitative measures, the researchers assessed patient perceived \u27pleasantness\u27 apropos of an alternating waiting room environment, with the control group being exposed to daytime television and the experimental group being exposed to relaxing music with nature scenes. In total, 149 participants completed the pilot study; 76 participants formed the control group, while 73 formed the experimental group. The results indicate that military out-patient mental health patients are positively impacted by music interventions in their waiting room experience, as revealed by an increase in reported \u27pleasantness\u27 in the experimental group as compared to the control group. The researchers recommend that further work be performed in comprehending the salubrious effects of music interventions in the military clinical setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved

Pre-service factors associated with sexual misconduct among male U.S. Marines.

PurposeSexual assault is a prevalent and persistent problem in the military, yet few studies have examined predictors of sexual offenses. The study aim was to determine pre-service factors associated with sexual offense conviction among U.S. Marines.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed data from male active duty U.S. Marines (2003-2018). Pre-service factors were assessed using survey data from the Recruit Assessment Program, obtained prior to recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. These survey data were linked with sexual offense conviction data obtained from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Consolidated Law Enforcement Operations Center.ResultsOf the 146,307 participants, the majority were 18-19 years old (66.7%) and non-Hispanic, White (62.1%) with a high school education or less (76.8%); 107 received convictions for a sexual offense. In unadjusted analyses, race and ethnicity, parental education, type of primary caregiver, parental death, family economic status, childhood emotional trauma, childhood physical abuse, childhood sexual abuse, and unprotected sex were associated with a sexual offense conviction. In the final multivariable model, race and ethnicity (American Indian/Alaskan Native, odds ratio [OR]: 5.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86-14.98; Hispanic, OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.06-3.18; multiracial/other, OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.56-6.89), education (≤ high school, OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.21-5.80), parental death (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.16-4.45), unprotected sex (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.03-3.05), and school suspension/expulsion (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.02-2.65) were significant predictors of a subsequent sexual offense conviction.ConclusionsResults underscore the importance of understanding factors associated with sexual offense and highlight the large discrepancy between self-reported estimates of sexual assault and sexual offense convictions. Findings may inform the development of effective strategies to reduce sexual misconduct, such as technology-facilitated programs that provide private, targeted education; supportive assistance; and prevention materials to individuals who may have elevated sexual misconduct risk

Factors associated with persistent posttraumatic stress disorder among U.S. military service members and veterans

Abstract Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have long-term and far-reaching impacts on health and social and occupational functioning. This study examined factors associated with persistent PTSD among U.S. service members and veterans. Methods Using baseline and follow-up (2001–2013) questionnaire data collected approximately every 3 years from the Millennium Cohort Study, multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine factors associated with persistent PTSD. Participants included those who screened positive for PTSD using the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version at baseline (N = 2409). Participants were classified as having remitted or persistent PTSD based on screening negative or positive, respectively, at follow-up. Results Almost half of participants (N = 1132; 47%) met criteria for persistent PTSD at the first follow-up; of those, 804 (71%) also screened positive for PTSD at the second follow-up. Multiple factors were independently associated with persistent PTSD in an adjusted model at the first follow-up, including older age, deployment with high combat exposure, enlisted rank, initial PTSD severity, depression, history of physical assault, disabling injury/illness, and somatic symptoms. Among those with persistent PTSD at the first follow-up, additional factors of less sleep, separation from the military, and lack of social support were associated with persistent PTSD at the second follow-up. Conclusions Combat experiences and PTSD severity were the most salient risk factors for persistent PTSD. Comorbid conditions, including injury/illness, somatic symptoms, and sleep problems, also played a significant role and should be addressed during treatment. The high percentage of participants with persistent PTSD supports the need for more comprehensive and accessible treatment, especially after separation from the military

Life events, experiences and risky behaviors by sexual offense conviction among U.S. male marines.

Life events, experiences and risky behaviors by sexual offense conviction among U.S. male marines.</p

Multivariable logistic regression model for sexual offense conviction among U.S. male marines.

Multivariable logistic regression model for sexual offense conviction among U.S. male marines.</p

Demographics, family history, and childhood experiences by sexual offense conviction among U.S. male marines.

Demographics, family history, and childhood experiences by sexual offense conviction among U.S. male marines.</p