Examination of the PC-PTSD in previously deployed Air Force Medical Service personnel |
| |
| Authors: | Anthony P. Tvaryanas Edward D. White Valarie M. Schroeder Heather J. Mahaney |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Human Systems Integration Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;2. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;3. Department of Aeromedical Research, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio |
| |
| Abstract: | This study assessed the performance of the PC-PTSD in diagnosing postdeployment posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a cohort of Air Force Medical Services personnel (N = 18,530). The prevalence of PTSD in the cohort was 5.18% based on medical record data. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.69, indicating poor classification accuracy. Sensitivity was 47.55%, specificity was 90.68%, positive predictive value was 21.79%, and negative predictive value was 96.94%. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 5.10 and 0.58, respectively. Several risk factors were found to be associated with a diagnosis of postdeployment PTSD: being a nurse, being enlisted in the medical service career field, being enlisted in the mental health service career field, those over age 30, being a member of the Active Duty service component, and having one’s first deployment be to Iraq. Being an officer was found to be a protective characteristic. These factors could potentially improve screening for PTSD among Air Force healthcare personnel. |
| |
| Keywords: | Deployment mental health military medical personnel health assessment air force PTSD posttraumatic stress disorder |
|
|
