Document Detail


Unit cohesion and PTSD symptom severity in Air Force medical personnel.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20684451     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Research suggests that military unit cohesion may protect against the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, equivocal findings have led researchers to hypothesize a potential curvilinear interaction between unit cohesion and warzone stress. This hypothesis states that the protective effects of cohesion increase as warzone stress exposure intensifies from low to moderate levels, but at high levels of warzone stress exposure, cohesion loses its protective effects and is potentially detrimental. To test this theory, we conducted a test for curvilinear moderation using a sample of 705 Air Force medical personnel deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Results did not support the curvilinear interaction hypothesis, although evidence of cohesion's protective effects was found, suggesting that unit cohesion protects against PTSD regardless of level of stress exposure.
Authors:
Benjamin D Dickstein; Carmen P McLean; Jim Mintz; Lauren M Conoscenti; Maria M Steenkamp; Trisha A Benson; William C Isler; Alan L Peterson; Brett T Litz
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Military medicine     Volume:  175     ISSN:  0026-4075     ISO Abbreviation:  Mil Med     Publication Date:  2010 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-05     Completed Date:  2010-09-16     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2984771R     Medline TA:  Mil Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  482-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Algorithms
Combat Disorders / prevention & control*,  psychology*
Female
Humans
Iraq War, 2003 -
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Military Personnel / psychology*
Military Psychiatry
Psychometrics
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index
Social Support*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / prevention & control*,  psychology*
United States

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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