Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Family functioning in recent combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol misuse
Journal Name
Traumatology
Journal Volume
21
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
267-272
DOI
10.1037/trm0000037
Summary
Post-deployment can be a challenging time for Service members and their families. The relationships between family functioning and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use in Veterans were explored. Results suggest that existence of alcohol use and individual PTSD symptoms can have a negative impact on different aspects of family functioning.
Key Findings
Veterans’ who had better functioning in romantic relationships also reported less “emotional numbing” as a PTSD symptom.
Better relationships with extended family members were associated with lower amounts of Veterans’ excessive alcohol use and months since deployment.
Veterans with symptoms of depression have poorer family functions with immediate family members than with extended family members.
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate Service members about the impact of excessive alcohol use on family functioning
Offer support groups for military couples who are affected by symptoms of PTSD
Continue to provide resources for Service members struggling with PTSD and depression long after deployment
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage the development of ongoing programs for Service members with PTSD and depression after deployment
Continue to support programs that provide assistance to military families struggling with the impacts of PTSD and depression post-deployment
Recommend education for service providers on the effects of alcohol use on family well-being, particularly during the post-deployment period
Methods
Participants for this study were recruited from a longitudinal study from Veterans Affairs Primary Care. Inclusion criteria included OEF/OIF combat experience, concerning alcohol use behaviors, and symptoms of combat-related PTSD.
Structured interviews were conducted to collect data on PTSD symptoms, alcohol use, depression, and family functioning.
Data were examined to understand the connection between mental health variables, alcohol use, and family functioning.
Participants
The sample included 137 Veterans that served in OEF/OIF with an average age of 30 years old (SD = 7.2).
The majority of participants were men (88%). Most (82%) of the participants were White.
Army Veterans made up a large proportion of this study (68%). A breakdown for the other service branches was not included. Many of the participants were former Reservists or members of the National Guard (52%).
Limitations
The sample only included Veterans with excessive alcohol use and PTSD.
Long-term effects of combat related mental health issues on family functioning are unknown because interviews were conducted only once.
There were low levels of participation among females and non-White Veterans, limiting the generalizability of this study.
This study was only correlational, therefore causation cannot be implied from the findings.
Avenues for Future Research
Create a longitudinal study to further understand how alcohol use and PTSD affect family functioning over time
Replicate this study in a larger sample size that includes a multitude of mental diagnoses
Explore how PTSD symptoms impact parental functioning in Active Duty military families
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Component
Abstract
Research indicates that veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) face high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that PTSD symptoms are associated with poorer family functioning. This study investigates the relationship of PTSD symptom clusters with functioning domains among OEF/OIF combat veterans while controlling for depression and alcohol use, which are commonly comorbid with PTSD in this population. Participants were 137 OEF/OIF veterans recruited from Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care as part of a longitudinal study examining daily fluctuations in PTSD and alcohol use. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) measured PTSD severity, the Social Adjustment Scale-Self-Report (SAS-SR) measured veteran’s perceptions of family functioning, the Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT) measured hazardous alcohol use, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) measured depression. Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted with 4 family functioning domains from the SAS-SR as criterion variables and relevant sociodemographic/ military variables, alcohol use severity, depression severity, and PTSD symptom cluster severity as predictors. Results indicate that (a) the emotional numbing cluster of PTSD is uniquely associated with functioning in romantic relationships, (b) depression is uniquely associated with poor functioning within the family unit, (c) alcohol misuse is uniquely associated with problems with family outside the home, and (d) more months back from their most recent combat deployment is associated with more family functioning problems. Clinicians treating the mental health concerns of combat veterans should consider the impact of specific mental health symptoms on family functioning
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