Ethnic and racial differences in clinically relevant symptoms in active duty military personnel with posttraumatic stress disorder

Antonia N Kaczkurkin; Anu Asnaani; Brittany Hall-Clark; Alan L Peterson; Jeffrey S Yarvis; Edna B Foa; STRONG STAR Consortium

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.09.004

Ethnic and racial differences in clinically relevant symptoms in active duty military personnel with posttraumatic stress disorder

J Anxiety Disord. 2016 Oct:43:90-98. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.09.004. Epub 2016 Sep 9.

Authors

Antonia N Kaczkurkin¹, Anu Asnaani², Brittany Hall-Clark³, Alan L Peterson⁴, Jeffrey S Yarvis⁵, Edna B Foa⁶; STRONG STAR Consortium

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Electronic address: antoniak@mail.med.upenn.edu.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Electronic address: aasnaani@mail.med.upenn.edu.
³ Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Electronic address: hallclark@uthscsa.edu.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; University of Texas at San Antonio, 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA. Electronic address: petersona3@uthscsa.edu.
⁵ Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, 36000 Darnall Loop, Fort Hood, TX, 76544, USA. Electronic address: jeffrey.s.yarvis.mil@mail.mil.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Electronic address: foa@mail.med.upenn.edu.

PMID: 27639110
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.09.004

Abstract

Previous research has shown racial/ethnic differences in Vietnam veterans on symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study explored racial/ethnic differences in PTSD symptoms and clinically relevant symptoms. Resilience and social support were tested as potential moderators of racial/ethnic differences in symptoms. The sample included 303 active duty male service members seeking treatment for PTSD. After controlling for age, education, military grade, and combat exposure, Hispanic/Latino and African American service members reported greater PTSD symptoms compared to non-Hispanic White service members. Higher alcohol consumption was endorsed by Hispanic/Latino service members compared to non-Hispanic White or African American service members, even after controlling for PTSD symptom severity. No racial/ethnic differences were found with regard to other variables. These results suggest that care should be made to thoroughly assess PTSD patients, especially those belonging to minority groups, for concurrent substance use problems that may impede treatment utilization or adherence.

Keywords: Alcohol; Anger; Depression; Ethnicity; PTSD; Race.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Alcohol Drinking / psychology
Black or African American / psychology*
Female
Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Military Personnel / psychology*
Severity of Illness Index
Social Support
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / ethnology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
Symptom Assessment
White People / psychology*
Young Adult