Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Psychological Comorbidities Among U.S. Active Duty Service Members, 2006-2013.

Abstract

Among active duty service members, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses have increased dramatically since 2000. Because psychiatric comorbidity is more common for PTSD than for other mental health disorders, we examined the prevalence estimates of disorders comorbid or trimorbid with PTSD in this study. The medical records of 523,626 female and male active duty Sailors and Marines who entered the U.S. military between 2006 and 2013 were examined for diagnoses of PTSD and 14 potentially comorbid disorders. Results showed that 1.8% of military members had a PTSD diagnosis; among those with PTSD, 83.3% had a comorbid mental health disorder, and 62.2% had a third (i.e., trimorbid) disorder. Most frequently, PTSD co-occurred with depressive disorder (49.0%), adjustment disorder (37.0%), generalized anxiety disorder (36.1%), and alcohol use disorder (26.9%). All disorders we examined were significantly more likely to be diagnosed in service members with PTSD than in those without PTSD, odds ratios = 1.52-29.63. For service members with PTSD, comorbid mental health disorders are the rule rather than the exception. Consequently, it is important that clinicians also assess for other disorders and select treatment options that address both PTSD and comorbid conditions.