Research Paper Title

Missed Opportunity to Screen and Diagnose PTSD and Depression among Deploying Shipboard US Military Personnel.

Background

Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are significant risks for suicide and other adverse events among US military personnel, but prevalence data among ship-assigned personnel at the onset of deployment are unknown.

Aim

To determine the prevalence of shipboard personnel who screen positive for PTSD and/or major depressive disorder (MDD) at the onset of deployment, and also those who reported these diagnoses made by a physician or healthcare professional in the year prior to deployment.

Methods

Active-duty ship-assigned personnel (N = 2078) completed anonymous assessments at the beginning of deployment. Depression was measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; score of ≥22), and PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C; both score and symptom criteria were used).

Results

In total, 7.3% (n = 151 of 2076) screened positive for PTSD and 22% (n = 461 of 2078) for MDD at deployment onset. Only 6% and 15% of those who screened positive for PTSD or MDD, respectively, had been diagnosed by a healthcare professional in the past year.

Conclusions

Missed opportunities for mental healthcare among screen-positive shipboard personnel reduce the benefits associated with early identification and linkage to care. Improved methods of mental health screening that promote early recognition and referral to care may mitigate psychiatric events in theatre.

Reference

Harbertson, J., Hale, B.R., Michael, N.L. & Scott, P.T. (2016) Missed Opportunity to Screen and Diagnose PTSD and Depression among Deploying Shipboard US Military Personnel. BJPsych Open. 2016 Oct 5;2(5):314-317. eCollection 2016.