Replication and expansion of findings related to racial differences in veterans with combat-related PTSD

Abstract

Racial differences in those seeking treatment at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) outpatient posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment program were examined. One hundred eleven (71 Caucasian and 40 African American) veterans were compared on both self-report measures and interview measures of PTSD, depression, dissociation, and general psychopathology. Participants completed the following self-report measures: the Beck Depression Inventory, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Mississippi Combat PTSD Scale, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Participants also completed the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-1), which is a structured interview for PTSD, and completed a non-structured clinical interview. The two groups did not differ on measured demographic variables, nor were there significant differences on self-report or interview measures of anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptomatology. Contrary to expectation, groups did not differ on self-report measures of dissociation, paranoia, or schizophrenia. African Americans were significantly more likely to endorse items of bizarre mentation from the MMPI-2. These results suggest that African American and Caucasian veterans with combat-related PTSD do not differ with regard to manifestation or severity of psychopathology.

Learning and memory impairment in PTSD: relationship to depression

“…Several earlier studies have shown that significantly more African American than Caucasian veterans demonstrate PTSD in southern populations of combat veterans, as reviewed by Frueh et al [1998]. In an extensive analysis of the effects of race on PTSD severity and symptomology, these same investigators found that race had little effect on these variables [Frueh et al, 1997;Monnier et al, 2002]. Results of this study support these conclusions.…”

Differences in Mental Health Outcomes among Whites, African Americans, and Hispanics Following a Community Disaster

“…In their review of the empirical literature examining this association, however, Frueh, Brady, & Arellano (1998) contend that the results of past studies are anything but clear. They conclude that both the limited amount of research and the inconsistent empirical data pertaining to race and PTSD prevented any definitive conclusions about the role of race/ethnicity in understanding differences in PTSD rates (Frueh et al 1998;Monnier et al 2002). Our results do support other analyses of community samples and the finding of no racial and ethnic differences in PTSD (e.g., Kessler et al 1995).…”

“…Some researchers have found that racial and ethnic minorities, primarily African Americans, suffer from higher rates of psychological disorders compared to Whites (Galea et al 2002;Warheit, Holzer, & Arey 1975). In contrast, other researchers have discovered few differences between racial and ethnic groups for psychological problems, once background and stress exposure factors have been controlled (Breslau et al 1998;Galea et al 2003;Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, & Hughes, 1995;Monnier, Elhai, Frueh, Sauvageot, & Magruder 2002), or that African Americans may in fact have lower rates of depression relative to other groups (e.g., Kessler et al 2003). In most of these studies, though, minority participants reported more negative life events compared to their White counterparts (see also Turner, Taylor & Van Gundy 2004).…”

“…Use of symptom scales usually result in higher levels of psychopathology for minority participants than for Whites, while use of diagnostic criteria shows lower rates of depression for African Americans and few differences among other racial or ethnic groups (Escobar et al 1983;Kessler et al 2003;Plant & Sachs-Ericsson 2004). Second, most studies concentrate on only one or two measures of psychological disorders (e.g., Monnier et al 2002;Plant and Sachs-Ericsson 2004) rather than a range of outcomes (e.g., Kessler, Mickelson, & Williams 1999). Yet, racial and ethnic differences, as noted above, may exist for some psychological disorders, but not others.…”

Positive traits versus previous trauma: racially different correlates with PTSD symptoms among hurricane katrina‐rita volunteers

“…In a 9/ 11 study, the cross-cultural conflict could heighten the crisis effect on the vulnerable minorities (Galea et al, 2002;Khaylis et al, 2007), and minorities then reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms (Ai et al, 2010). Monnier, Elhai, Frueh, Sauvageot, and Magruder (2002), however, found no Black-versus-White racial differences in symptom improvement in their prospective assessment of 403 veterans with longstanding, severe war-related PTSD. The mixed findings suggested the potential impact of contextual factors (e.g., the political nature of events, common goals across races) should be taken into account in examining racial differences in traumatization.…”