Causes of death among male veterans who received residential treatment for PTSD

Previous studies have shown elevated mortality among psychiatric and substance abusing patients, including veterans with PTSD. Although early studies showed elevated deaths from external causes among Vietnam veterans in the early postwar years, more recent studies have also shown increased health pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of traumatic stress 2003-12, Vol.16 (6), p.535-543
Main Authors: Drescher, Kent D., Rosen, Craig S., Burling, Thomas A., Foy, David W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Cause of Death
Cohort Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
military veterans
mortality
posttraumatic stress
PTSD treatment
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - mortality
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy
Survival Rate
Veterans
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Summary:Previous studies have shown elevated mortality among psychiatric and substance abusing patients, including veterans with PTSD. Although early studies showed elevated deaths from external causes among Vietnam veterans in the early postwar years, more recent studies have also shown increased health problems among veterans with PTSD. This study compared mortality due to behavioral causes versus other diseases among 1,866 male veterans treated for PTSD. Death certificates obtained for 110 veterans indicated behavioral causes accounted for 62.4% of deaths, standardized mortality ratio = 3.4–5.5, including accidents (29.4%), chronic substance abuse (14.7%), and intentional death by suicide, homicide, or police (13.8%). Results suggest possible opportunities to improve outcomes of this at‐risk patient population through harm reduction interventions and improved continuity of care.
ISSN:0894-9867
1573-6598
DOI:10.1023/B:JOTS.0000004076.62793.79