Tackling Mental Health via Ohio’s National Guard

Highlights

Military service members face serious mental health risks
Abt’s survey identifies factors associated with mental health disorders
A body of vital journal publications has emerged from this study

The Challenge

Military service members face serious mental health risks as a result of carrying out their duties. The consequences of service can include the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury and alcohol and substance use disorders. A better understanding of the prevalence of these psychopathologies, how they develop and the social support systems that help resist them is needed to support service members’ adjustment to a civilian lifestyle.

The Approach

In 2008, Abt designed a longitudinal phone survey and invited a cohort of Ohio National Guard members to participate. Through periodic baseline interviews, this cohort has grown to include approximately 3,500 members. The survey is currently in its eighth wave (of a planned nine) and is supported by in-person interviews, genetic analysis, brain imaging and interviews that focus on alcohol consumption.

The Results

The study is not yet complete, but the data have inspired 31 academic journal publications so far. Findings include:

The identification of a genetic sequence that partially predicts the development of PTSD in combination with childhood trauma
Coincident PTSD and depression predicts alcohol abuse
There are strong correlations between cigarette smoking, depression and suicidal ideation
The questions used to diagnose mental health disorders are valid