Relationship of Combat Experiences and Alcohol Misuse Among U.S. Special Operations Soldiers

Abstract

This study examined the association between specific combat experiences and postdeployment hazardous drinking patterns on selected military populations that are considered high risk, such as personnel belonging to U.S. Army Special Operations Forces. Data collection were conducted in a 5-year span in which 1,323 Special Operations Forces Soldiers were surveyed anonymously from 3 to 6 months after returning from deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan regarding their combat experiences and mental health. Combat items were independently analyzed and placed into the following categories: (1) Fighting, (2) Killing, (3) Threat to oneself, (4) Death/Injury of others, and (5) Atrocities. Alcohol misuse was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption. Of the Soldiers sampled, 15% (N = 201) screened positive for alcohol misuse 3 to 6 months postdeployment. Combat experiences relating to fighting, threat to oneself, and atrocities were significantly related to alcohol misuse when analyzed individually. However, when factors were analyzed simultaneously, combat experiences in the fighting category were significantly associated with a positive screen for alcohol misuse. In conclusion, Soldiers belonging to certain elite combat units are significantly more likely to screen positive for alcohol misuse if they are exposed to specific types of fighting combat experiences versus any other type of combat exposure.

Predicting Suicide Ideation in the Military: The Independent Role of Aggression

“…Suicide ideation was reported by 3.3% ( n = 31) and aggression was reported by 52.2% ( n = 493). Cutoffs for alcohol misuse (Skipper et al., ) were met by 39.9% ( n = 377), and risk‐taking behaviors were reported by 13.8% ( n = 130). Cutoffs for depression (Kroenke et al., ) were met by 7.6% ( n = 72), and sleep problems were reported by 19.0% ( n = 179).…”

“…Cronbach's alpha for the AUDIT‐C was 0.79. A dichotomous variable was created to analyze alcohol misuse; a positive score indicated the criteria for alcohol misuse had been met (i.e., a score ≥5 for males or ≥4 for females; Skipper, Forsten, Kim, Wilk, & Hoge, ).…”

2015 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey (HRBS)

“…Many studies and reviews have shown that higher combat exposure is significantly associated with postdeployment mental health issues (Hoge, Auchterlonie, and Milliken, 2006;Sareen et al, 2007;Skipper et al, 2014;Ramchand, Schell, Karney, et al, 2010;Ramchand, Rudavsky, et al, 2015), and significant percentages of recently deployed service members report mental and physical health problems-including PTSD, TBI, generalized anxiety, and major depression-that may stem from their combat exposures (Tanielian and Jaycox, 2008;Hoge, McGurk, et al, 2008). Other studies have associated combat exposure with chronic pain (Sheffler et al, 2016) and increased dependence on substances, particularly alcohol (Ramchand, Rudavsky, et al, 2015;Wilk, Bliese, Kim, et al, 2010) and prescription drugs (e.g., opioids) (Seal et al, 2012;Toblin et al, 2014).…”

“…Several studies have explored the relationship between combat exposure and substance use and misuse (Jeffery and Mattiko, 2016;Jacobson, Ryan, et al, 2008;Santiago et al, 2010;Skipper et al, 2014). Jacobson, Ryan, and colleagues (2008) found that service members who deployed and reported combat exposure were at increased risk of alcohol misuse (i.e., new onset of drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol dependency).…”

Artificial intelligence in prediction of mental health disorders induced by the COVID-19 pandemic among health care workers

“…Objective assessment of intensity of HCWs’ stressor exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic is based on acquiring information from official hospital archives and clinical records regarding their daily schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic, overtime work, the level of threat they experienced, sick leave, etc. These objective metrics of exposure to stressors are proposed based on analysis and adaptation of different questionnaires that have been used for assessment of stressors in military combat deployment and operation ( 22 - 24 ), as well as stressors in virus outbreaks ( 25 - 28 ). The key aim of this phase is to objectively stratify individual HCWs according to the objective level of stress to which they were exposed during their clinical service, using the information provided by authorized clinical sources rather than by asking individuals to self-report themselves.…”