Journal
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
Volume 136, Issue 3, Pages 469-475Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.10.048
Keywords
Military; Grief; Epidemiology; Somatic symptoms; Occupational functioning
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Funding
- U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC)
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Background: Few studies have measured the burden of physical health problems after Iraq/Afghanistan deployment, except in association with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Grief, a correlate of health problems in the general population, has not been systematically examined. We aimed to identify the prevalence of post-deployment physical health problems and their association with difficulty coping with grief. Methods: Infantry soldiers (n=1522) completed anonymous surveys using validated instruments six months following deployment in November-December 2008. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of difficulty coping with grief and physical health. Results: The most frequent physical health symptoms reported were: sleep problems (32.8%), musculoskeletal pain (32.7%), fatigue (32.3%), and back pain (28.1%). Difficulty coping with grief over the death of someone close affected 21.3%. There was a dose-response relationship between level of difficulty coping with grief and principal physical health outcomes (ps<.002). Controlling for demographics, combat experiences, injuries, PTSD, depression, and other factors, grief significantly and uniquely contributed to a high somatic symptom score (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.6), poor general health (AOR=2.0), missed work (AOR=1.7), medical utilization (AOR=1.5), difficulty carrying a heavy load (AOR=1.7), and difficulty performing physical training (AOR=1.6; all 95% confidence intervals > 1). Limitations: Data are cross-sectional and grief was measured with one item. Conclusions: Over 20% of soldiers reported difficulty coping with grief. This difficulty was significantly associated with physical health outcomes and occupational impairment Clinicians should be aware of the unique role grief plays in post-deployment physical health when treating patients. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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