National Guard Personnel Research Articles

Effects of permethrin-treated uniforms on tick submissions to a military passive tick surveillance program.

Permethrin-treated clothing is often recommended as a first line of defense against tick-borne diseases. In 2012, the permethrin factory-treated Army Combat Uniform was first made available to active duty Soldiers, Army National Guard, Army Reserve Enlisted Soldiers, and the Senior/Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. Subsequently, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel were also offered permethrin factory-treated uniforms. Here, we use the passive surveillance data collected through the Military Tick Identification/Infection Confirmation Kit (MilTICK) program to determine the effectiveness of permethrin-treated uniforms at protecting Department of Defense personnel from exposure to tick-borne pathogens in the United States. We analyzed whether submissions by self-reported users of the permethrin-treated uniforms had smaller proportions of engorged ticks, certain cohorts of MilTICK users were better protected than others, and specific tick species were better repelled than others. We found that permethrin use resulted in significantly lower proportions of engorged ticks submitted across MilTICK users. Army and Army National Guard personnel reported more permethrin-treated uniform use than other services. For submissions from active duty personnel serving in uniform, the proportion of tick engorgement in the presence of permethrin increased over time, possibly indicating that permethrin-treated uniforms suffer from reduced performance over the life of the garment. We also found that while permethrin reduced all tick species' ability to feed until engorgement or repletion, blacklegged tick adult females were better able to resist permethrin's lethal effects than lone star tick and American dog tick adult females. Permethrin-treated clothing plays an important role in keeping military personnel safe from tick-borne diseases.

Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics: Normative Reference Values for U. S. Army National Guard Soldiers.

The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) is a computerized cognitive test system used extensively with military service members. The aim of this study was to develop a nationally representative normative dataset of Army National Guard (ARNG) personnel and to explore potential relationships between ANAM performances and select military service, demographic, and health factors. ANAM performance data were collected using standardized procedures from a representative sample of ARNG service members in six U.S. states. Normative performance values, stratified by age, sex, and military occupational category, were calculated for each ANAM subtest and descriptive measures were computed, along with base rates of below-average performance. The effect of demographic (e.g., age, sex, education, race) and military service and health factors (e.g., deployment, job category, history of head injury) was examined. Data from 1,436 ARNG service members (14.3% female) were analyzed, and normative values calculated. Overall, differences in ANAM performance based on demographic, military service, and health factors were small. A total of 8.9% of the sample had scores on two or more subtests that were ≥ 1.3 SD below the mean; this dropped to 1.9% using a more stringent cut point (≥2 SD below the mean). The ANAM normative data reported herein ensure that healthcare providers and researchers have access to reference data that more accurately reflect the larger population of ARNG service members. These data support the assessment and management of ARNG service members' health, as well as future ANAM research involving ARNG service members.

Training, Deployment Preparation, andBehavioral Health ofNew York National Guard Personnel Deployed to Assist with COVID-19 Decedent Work.

A small body of research conducted mostly among civilians has shown that adequate training and preparation can prevent or reduce the development of behavioral health problems in first responders. Several civilian studies have shown that social support is protective against behavioral health problems. However, very few studies have examined the impact of these factors on the behavioral health of military first responders. Military first responders, who serve in the aftermath of natural disasters and disease outbreaks such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, are often members of the National Guard (NG). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mortuary affairs training/handling human remains, role preparation, equipment preparation, and unit social support provided to families on the behavioral health of New York (NY) NG personnel deployed to assist the NY Office of Chief Medical Examiner with handling the remains of COVID-19 decedents. We invited 410 NYNG personnel who deployed for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner mission to complete an anonymous online questionnaire 3 to 6 months post-mission. Of the 158 participants, we used the data of the 141 participants who provided consent. Standard behavioral health measures (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol misuse, and insomnia) as well as study-specific items designed to understand the unique dynamics of this deployment were included. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between mortuary training, role preparation, equipment preparation, and unit support with behavioral health. Close to two-thirds of the sample reported that they had not been trained in mortuary affairs/handling human remains before the mission. We also found that that lower levels of role preparation and unit support provided to the service members' families increased the odds of meeting criteria for one or more behavioral health problems, but that training in mortuary affairs and equipment preparation was unrelated to behavioral health. Our research points to the importance of emotionally and cognitively preparing service members for the specific dynamics of a deployment and the roles that that they are expected to play. Furthermore, it suggests that supporting the families of NG personnel during domestic missions can benefit the behavioral health of the NG personnel. Additional research is needed to corroborate these findings, particularly the impact of unit support provided to family members on service members' behavioral health.

Lethal means safety counseling among firearm-owning U.S. National Guard personnel: Hyperarousal symptoms as a moderator of treatment outcomes.

The U.S. Department of Defense and other stakeholders recommend lethal means safety counseling (LMSC) to reduce suicide risk among military service members. Despite the promise of LMSC, few studies have examined moderators of LMSC treatment outcomes, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms are characteristically hypervigilant to threat and are more likely to store their firearms unsafely, which might impact their treatment response to LMSC. In this secondary analysis of the Project Safe Guard LMSC intervention, 209 firearm-owning members of the Mississippi National Guard completed self-report surveys (M [SD] age = 35.2 [10.1] years; 86.6% male, 79.4% White). We used logistic regression to examine the moderating effect of PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; e.g., hyperarousal symptoms) on the association between treatment groups (LMSC vs. control; cable lock provision vs. no cable lock provision) and the use of new locking devices at 6-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, 24.9% (n = 52) of participants reported new firearm locking device use. The interaction between hyperarousal symptoms and LMSC (vs. control) was significant. Specifically, LMSC increased the use of new firearm locking devices relative to control at 6-month follow-up for individuals with low/medium, but not high, levels of baseline hyperarousal symptoms. Hyperarousal symptoms did not moderate the association between cable lock provision (vs. no cable lock provision) and use of new locking devices. Findings suggest that existing LMSC interventions need to be adapted for use with service members with elevated hyperarousal symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

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In modern military operations, units of the National Guard of Ukraine often have to perform tasks in densely populated urban areas, which complicates reconnaissance and monitoring. The prevalence of electronic warfare tactics that disrupt satellite signals such as GPS and GLONASS further exacerbates these problems. Traditional unmanned aerial vehicles, which rely heavily on satellite navigation, are vulnerable to electronic countermeasures, potentially compromising mission success. This article deals with the urgent issue of increasing the capacity of units of the National Guard of Ukraine that operate in such conditions. The challenge is the need for reliable and robust means of reconnaissance and navigation in environments where satellite signals are blocked or unavailable. To address this issue, the paper explores the integration of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with optical-electronic navigation systems, offering a viable alternative to satellite-based unmanned aerial vehicles. The advantages of such integration are numerous. First, it significantly improves navigation accuracy even in the absence of satellite signals through a combination of inertial navigation systems, high-frequency terrain navigation, and image-based navigation. These systems provide precise unmanned aerial vehicles movements, a critical requirement for reconnaissance missions in complex urban landscapes. In addition, resistance to electronic warfare stands out as a decisive advantage. Unmanned aerial vehicles with opto-electronic navigation systems combined with anti-jamming features become resilient to electronic warfare tactics, providing uninterrupted reconnaissance and monitoring in conflict environments. However, the integration of optical-electronic navigation systems has certain limitations. Weather conditions such as fog or heavy rain may interfere with navigation. In addition, data processing needs can strain onboard computing resources, requiring advanced processors for optimal performance. Additionally, damage to optical sensors due to environmental factors can disrupt navigation, requiring redundancy or repair. In summary, the integration of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles with opto-electronic navigation systems offers a promising solution to the challenges faced by National Guard units in urban environments. Enhanced accuracy, resistance to electronic warfare, and adaptability to changing conditions make this approach a compelling choice to enhance mission success and ensure the safety of National Guard personnel in complex and contested scenarios.

A Sequential Application of Qualitative Methods to Develop a Population Based Tool for Identifying and Managing Exertional Heat Illness

Problem: United States (U.S.) National Guard (NG) units train annually to respond to natural and human-caused disasters. Given seasonal weather and climate extremes, no specific EHI risk assessment tool exists for medical personnel to assess EHI risk both before, during and after each day of training or response. With personnel wearing impermeable personal protective equipment (all hazard suits and respirators), these personnel are at increased risk for EHI. Purpose: EHI risk factors were identified, and clinical management guidelines were developed using qualitative methods involving focus groups, content experts and a Delphi panel. Methods: A 4-phase approached was utilized: focus groups, content panel experts to estimate content validity of the revised SF-600 and a Delphi panel to estimate the content validity of the field and clinical management care guidelines to be used in conjunction with the SF-600R. The fourth phase was piloting the SF600R to compare with the current SF600. Results: Focus group data revealed human, environmental, and workplace/social factors as indicators associated with EHI. Content expert consensus was reached for sleep, fitness, acclimatization, sickle cell trait, medications, and hyper-motivation factors. Delphi panel results were used to confirm evidence-based field/pre-transport guidelines for managing EHI in CERF-P/HRF operations. A revised SF 600 was developed and piloted during a limited 2-day training exercise. Readability, time to completion by service members and medical teams, and capture of additional evidence-based risk factors were evaluated with a sub-set of 250 NG personnel (n=38). Conclusion: Screening and assessment of NG personnel before disaster deployment and post-screening evaluations must utilize current evidence on prevention and identification of EHI risk. Medical group leadership need to engage in more strategic planning and discussion to utilize the SF600 Pre and Post Event Screening form as a risk-based safety tool to reduce EHI incidence during training exercises and real-world response deployments. Keywords: Haddon’s Matrix, Exertional Heat Illness, Focus groups, Qualitative Research, Military

Postdeployment Alcohol Use and Risk Associated With Deployment Experiences, Combat Exposure, and Postdeployment Negative Emotions Among Army National Guard Soldiers

A continued health concern of the U.S. military has been unhealthy alcohol use by its service members, in particular among several subpopulations--the deployed, the combat-exposed, and the reserve component. This study provides prevalence estimates of post-deployment alcohol use among recently deployed Army National Guard (ARNG) personnel and compares the rates with those of soldiers in previously published studies. We also examine deployment experiences and combat events associated with postdeployment alcohol use and the role of negative emotions in this relationship. Study data were cross-sectional, retrospective soldier responses to an ongoing survey of health and well-being, called the Reintegration Unit Risk Inventory. The study sample consisted of recently returned Operation Iraqi Freedom ARNG soldiers (N = 4,567 in 50 companies), many of whom had participated in combat. Soldiers' alcohol use was compared with that of a sample of ARNG soldiers serving in their traditional part-time military service role who had responded to the Unit Risk Inventory, as well as with alcohol use reported in the research literature for deployed military personnel. Relationships among deployment and combat experiences, negative emotions, and postdeployment alcohol use were examined using multiple regression and mediation analyses. Combat events were associated with unhealthy alcohol use during postdeployment. In addition, postdeployment negative emotions mediated this relationship. Findings have implications for understanding the trauma-alcohol use relationship and for prevention of unhealthy alcohol use among military personnel.

РОЛЬ І ЗНАЧЕННЯ МІЖНАРОДНОГО СПІВРОБІТНИЦТВА У РОЗВИТКУ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ГВАРДІЇ УКРАЇНИ

The article examines the role and importance of international cooperation of the National Guard of Ukraine. The main directions of international cooperation of the National Guard of Ukraine are determined and revealed. Perspective tasks have been identified, the implementation of which will ensure effective cooperation and development of bilateral relations with foreign military formations with law enforcement functions. It was emphasized that international cooperation is an integral part of the activities of the National Guard of Ukraine. It is emphasized that the Institute of International Cooperation of the National Guard of Ukraine is the tool that allows to fully ensure the protection of international security and the rights and fundamental freedoms of man and citizen. It has been established that international cooperation is an integral part of the activities of the National Guard of Ukraine. Its main directions: assimilation and use of international experience of other guard (law enforcement) bodies; organization and implementation of joint international projects (including research projects; cooperation in the field of crime prevention; training of National Guard personnel) (retraining, advanced training) in foreign countries. It is emphasized that the importance of international cooperation of the National Guard of Ukraine is difficult to overestimate, because with the help of international cooperation it is possible to regulate the activities of the National Guard of Ukraine with other law enforcement services and agencies so as to provide all necessary conditions for the National Guard of Ukraine. to fight crime, ensure peace and order. It is emphasized that the institute of international cooperation of the National Guard of Ukraine is the tool that allows to fully ensure the protection of international security and the rights and fundamental freedoms of man and citizen.

A Review of Genome-Based Precision Medicine Efforts Within the Department of Defense.

Providing patient-specific clinical care is an expanding focus for medical professionals and researchers, more commonly referred to as personalized or precision medicine. The goal of using a patient-centric approach is to provide safer care while also increasing the probability of therapeutic success through careful consideration of the influence of certain extrinsic and intrinsic human factors in developing the patient care plan. Of increasing influence on patient care is the phenotype and genotype information gathered from employing various next-generation sequencing methods. Guided by and partnered with our civilian colleagues, clinical components within the DoD are embracing and advancing genomic medicine in many facets-from the bench to the bedside-and in many therapeutic areas, from Psychiatry to Oncology. In this PubMed-based review, we describe published clinical research and interventions within the DoD using genome-informed data and emphasize precision medicine efforts in earlier stages of development with the potential to revolutionize the approach to therapeutics. The new PubMed database was searched for articles published between 2015 and 2020 with the following key search terms: precision medicine, genomic, pharmacogenetic, pharmacogenomic, US military, and Department of Defense. Eighty-one articles were retrieved in our initial search. After screening the abstracts for studies that only involved direct testing of (or clinical interaction with) active duty, Reserve, National Guard, or civilian personnel working within the DoD and excluding any epidemiological or microbial isolation studies, seven were included in this review. There are several programs and studies within the DoD, which investigate or use gene-based biomarkers or gene variants to deliver more precise clinical assessment and treatment. These genome-based precision medicine efforts aim to optimize the clinical care of DoD beneficiaries, particularly service members in the operational environment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Deployed Personnel in a Joint Environment.

ABSTRACTIntroductionIn the United States, vaccine hesitancy has been identified as a major barrier to vaccination against COVID-19, but attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among military personnel are not well understood. We evaluated the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 vaccine consent or refusal among deployed personnel in a joint environment.Materials and MethodsDeidentified data were retrospectively extracted from the electronic medical record of the Military Health System in May 2021. All personnel currently assigned to the deployment area of operations were included in the analysis if their choice to receive the vaccine was known. Personnel characteristics were compared by vaccine acceptance status using chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, or correlation coefficients. This analysis was exempted from Institutional Review Board review.ResultsThe sample included 1,809 individuals, primarily members of the Army (72%) and members of Reserve (53%) or National Guard (27%) units. In the overall sample, 61% accepted the vaccine, with vaccine acceptance rates being lowest among Black or African American personnel (54%; P = .03 for comparison across racial groups) and members of Reserve or National Guard units (59%; P < .001 for comparison by component). No differences in vaccine acceptance were found according to sex or health status (including prior COVID-19 infection).ConclusionsOverall vaccine acceptance was greater among deployed military personnel than that reported in the U.S. population as a whole. However, lower vaccine acceptance among personnel from marginalized populations suggests a need to ensure that all service members have sufficient opportunities to have a frank and ongoing discussion with health care providers to address concerns related to vaccination. Additionally, lower vaccine acceptance among Reserve and National Guard personnel indicates a need for innovative educational approaches to counter vaccine hesitancy in the premobilization phase of deployment.

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

Soldiers in the U.S. Army National Guard are at elevated risk for suicide compared to soldiers in the other components. Most suicides by military service members, including members of the U.S. Army National Guard, are enacted with personal firearms. The unsafe storage of firearms is associated with increased risk for death by suicide. Therefore, efforts to elucidate modifiable factors associated with unsafe firearm storage have the potential to inform military suicide prevention efforts. PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are characterized in part by a heightened sense of being "on guard" for potential dangers and might contribute to an increased likelihood of storing firearms unsafely. This study sought to examine if more severe PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are associated with greater unsafe firearm storage practices. Participants were 327 U.S. Army National Guard personnel (M [SD]age = 26.90 [7.45] years; 93.3% male; 77.8% White/Caucasian). Firearm storage practices were assessed via a structured questionnaire. PTSD symptoms (reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, hyperarousal) were assessed via the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M). Logistic regression analyses were utilized. Elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms were significantly associated with storing firearms loaded and/or in nonsecure locations, even after controlling for the effects of the other PTSD symptom clusters. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the pattern of findings remained consistent among participants with a deployment history and when controlling for the effects of agitation symptoms. Findings of this study suggest that U.S. Army National Guard personnel who experience elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are more likely to store their firearms unsafely. Implications for military suicide prevention are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Current and Proposed Efforts to Resolve HSPD-5 and NCP Authorities (NIC and PFO)

ABSTRACT During the evening of 20 April, 2010 U.S. Coast Guard District Eight Command Center watch standers received a report of an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon (DWH), an oil rig working on the Macondo oil well approximately 42 miles Southeast of Venice, LA (OSC Report, 2011). The explosion on board the DWH and resulting fires eventually destroyed the oil rig and caused it to sink into the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven crewmembers lost their lives in the tragic events that unfolded that night, and one of the nation's largest environmental disasters would soon follow. Estimates of the oil discharged from the Macondo oil well were between 12,000 and 25,000 barrels per day, and the response involved approximately 47,000 oil spill response personnel, 6,870 vessels, approximately 4.12 million feet of boom, and 17,500 National Guard personnel, five states (OSC Report, 2011). The massive oil spill lasted 87 days and estimates suggest that more than 200 million gallons of oil was discharged into the Gulf of Mexico, which stands as the largest oil spill event in U.S. history. From these massive response operations came important lessons learned for SONS event planning, preparedness, and response, as it became apparent during DWH response operations that oil spill response governance and doctrine was not well understood across the whole-of-government. This issue was well documented in the National Incident Commander's report and several recommendations were identified to address this issue. This paper will explore the steps taken within the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) SONS Exercise and Training Program to promote a better understanding of oil spill response governance and doctrine among Cabinet-level senior leadership and the interagency representatives that will ultimately be involved when the next SONS event happens.

ФАКТОРЫ ВОСПИТАНИЯ ЛИЧНОГО СОСТАВА ПОДРАЗДЕЛЕНИЙ РОСГВАРДИИ

At present, the education of personnel of the Federal National Guard Troops Service in line with their professional activities plays an important role in maintaining the high combat readiness of the troops of the Russian Guard, as well as in successful completing service and combat missions for their intended purpose at a stated time. The paper studies the factors influencing the formation and development of professional attributes of personnel of the Federal National Guard Troops Service within the service and fighting activity. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, the author specifies three groups of factors influencing the training of servicemen and the staff of the Federal National Guard Troops Service: service-professional, environmental, and personal. The service-professional factors involve military (professional) training activities, performance of duties of combat service (on military duty), moral and psychological support, and other areas of service and combat activities. The environmental factors include the information environment, military personnel, family, friends, acquaintances, military rituals, wearing military uniforms, and military symbols. Personal factors reflect the intrapersonal level of mental activity of servicemen (employees) and imply motivation for self-improvement, the own activity of a person, and professional reflection. The author studied the opinions of officers regarding the importance of specified factors. The result showed the importance of all three groups of factors influencing the training of the RF National Guard personnel. According to the obtained data, the author concludes on the necessity to optimize the training process of the Russian Guard personnel by covering all areas of military professional activity.

“Postconcussive” Symptoms Explained by PTSD Symptom Severity in U.S. National Guard Personnel

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the unique associations between self-report history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on functional outcomes years after head injury. National Guard personnel (n = 608) from the mountain west who denied history of head injury (n = 342, 56.3%) and with history of mTBI (n = 266, 43.7%) were included in the present analyses. Participants completed self-report study measures of emotional (i.e., depression, PTSD symptoms), social (i.e., relationship satisfaction and perceived social support), and other general (i.e., concentration difficulties and sleep disturbance) functioning through an online survey. PTSD symptoms explained unique variance in emotional, social, and general functioning above and beyond history of mTBI. After controlling for PTSD symptoms, mTBI was not associated with current depression symptoms, relationship satisfaction, social support, concentration, or sleep difficulties. Self-report of PTSD symptoms account for emotional, social, and general functioning impairments often attributed to mTBI and labeled postconcussive syndrome. Symptoms often described as postconcussive syndrome in patients with mild traumatic brain injury may be better explained from a psychological standpoint. Patients with history of mTBI and persistent complaints should be screened for mental health conditions. If mental health concerns are present, treatment of that disorder may be indicated.

Nightmares and Insomnia in the US National Guard: Mental and Physical Health Correlates.

Nightmares and insomnia are significant concerns that commonly co-occur with each other and with other health disorders. Limited research has examined the unique and shared aspects of insomnia and nightmares, and little is known about sleep in US National Guard personnel. This study sought to determine the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of nightmares with and without insomnia in US National Guard personnel. National Guard personnel (N = 841) completed an online survey and were classified as having nightmares only, insomnia only, both, or neither, using a minimum nightmare frequency of "less than once a week" and an Insomnia Severity Index cutoff of ≥ 15. Analyses examined differences in demographics, physical health, and psychosocial variables and in the prevalence of nightmares and insomnia in personnel with physical and mental health problems. In this sample, 32% reported nightmares only, 4% reported insomnia only, and 12% reported both. Those in the youngest age group (18-21) were more likely to have no nightmares or insomnia. Those with both nightmares and insomnia had more deployments. Nightmares and insomnia were associated with poorer physical and mental health and greater prevalence of comorbid physical and mental health conditions. Personnel with both insomnia and nightmares reported the greatest severity of comorbid conditions. US National Guard personnel with nightmares and/or insomnia reported worse mental and physical health impairment than those without these conditions. Personnel may benefit from screening for nightmares and insomnia and referrals for evidence-based treatment.

Mental Health and Suicidality in Separating U.S. Reserve and National Guard Personnel

Objective We examined the association of U.S. Reserve Component (RC) personnel separating from military service with the risk of mental health problems at three time periods. Methods Structured interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,582 RC personnel at baseline and three follow-up waves from 2010 to 2013. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), binge drinking, suicide ideation, and mental health diagnosis by a health provider. Results Approximately 10%, 20%, and 28% of RC personnel reported separating from military service at waves 2–4. At an estimated 6 months since leaving military service, there were no differences between those who left and those who remained in service. However, at 1 year after leaving service, those who had left had a higher risk of MDD, suicidal ideation, and reporting having mental health diagnosis by a health provider. At 1.6 years after leaving military service, those who had left had a higher risk of reporting having mental health diagnosis by a health provider. The results were essentially unchanged after adjusting for baseline mental disorder for each outcome. Conclusion Results suggest a higher risk of mental health problems in RC veterans separating, compared to those who remained in the military. This risk may not occur immediately following separation but may occur within the first year or two after separation. Transition from military to civilian life may be a critical period for interventions to address the unique needs of the RC’s citizen-soldiers and reduce their risk of adverse mental health outcomes.

Internal Battles: Examining How Anger/Hostility Moderate the Association Between Negative Urgency and Suicidal Desire Variables in Military and Civilian Samples.

Suicide is consistently within the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. The suicide rate of National Guard personnel is elevated relative to the general population; however, research suggests that many of the suicide risk factors for military personnel are similar to the suicide risk factors for civilians. We examined whether negative urgency moderated the relationships between anger/hostility and perceived burdensomeness/thwarted belongingness in both a military and civilian samples. There were two samples in the current study: (1) military personnel (majority national guard) and (2) community members oversampled for suicide attempt history. Our hypotheses were partially supported with the interaction of hostility and negative urgency predicting perceived burdensomeness in the military sample. Within civilians, anger interacted with negative urgency to predict perceived burdensomeness. There were nonsignificant findings for analyses predicting thwarted belongingness. Exploratory analyses indicated that in both samples, anger and hostility interacted with negative urgency to predict suicidal ideation. Results suggest that aggressive attributes may contribute to individuals feeling as though they are a burden on others when moderate to high levels of negative urgency are present. Additionally, this study provides foundational support for the differences between suicidal desire and ideation.

Mental health, stress, and resilience correlates of heart rate variability among military reservists, guardsmen, and first responders

The use of heart rate variability (HRV) for monitoring stress has been growing in the behavioral health literature, especially in the areas of posttraumatic stress disorder, stress reactivity, and resilience. Few studies, however, have included general populations under workplace conditions. This study evaluates whether military and other first responders show lower HRV during stress than at baseline and greater post stress rebound, controlling for a myriad of potential confounders. A convenience sample of Reserves, National Guard, veteran, fire, and police personnel provided HRV and self-reported questionnaire responses before, during, and after a cognitive-stressor task with a smart phone application. Timing of HRV application; mental and physical health scores; coping and posttraumatic growth indicators, including being open to new possibilities; and emotional support were predictors of trajectories of the HRV response to stress. Findings from this exploratory study emphasize the strong link between stress and relaxation breathing in both respiratory sinus arrhythmia and low frequency heart rate variability and the need for controlling potential covariates for understanding the relationship between HRV and the stress response and providing a basis for hypothesis driven research.

The Efficacy of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD Related to Military Sexual Trauma in Veterans: A Review

ABSTRACTWomen currently comprise 12% of the total number of service personnel who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Presently, 15% of active duty personnel, 17% of National Guard personnel, and 20% of new recruits are female. The number of female veterans utilizing the Veterans Health Administration has more than doubled, from 159,000 to 337,000 from 2000–2011 and is expected to double again within the next decade. Similar overall numbers of female and male service members report experiencing military sexual trauma (MST). Prevalence rates vary by study where 20 to 68% of female service members and 1% to 6% of male service members have experienced MST. Many of these service members subsequently develop mental health issues and are diagnosed with conditions related to MST.Purpose: The purpose of this review was to summarize outcome studies examining Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for the treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to Military Sexual Trauma.Methods: The informational databases that were utilized for the current review were ERIC (EBSCO), ERIC (ProQuest), Google Scholar, and PsycINFO. The dates for literature inclusion was from 2010 to March of 2019. The literature search was initiated in March and was terminated in April of 2019.Results: The results indicated that CPT is an effective intervention for the reduction of MST related PTSD symptoms, including negative cognitions, compared to Present-Centered Therapy (PCT). Additionally, at 6-month post-treatment follow-up symptom reduction was stable. Results were mixed for CPT associated with quality of life and exposure to child Sexual abuse (CSA). Veterans who self-identified as African-American and Caucasian female veterans experienced significant reductions in PTSD symptomology with no differences between groups.Discussion: All studies included in the review resulted in significant reductions in PTSD but four of five also suffered from treatment fidelity in the CPT treatment condition. Researchers chose to exclude participant data from the therapists who did not adhere to CPT protocol resulting in a reduction of statistical power in these studies. The final study included in the review administered multiple treatment modalities concurrently.

Unwanted sexual experiences and retraumatization: Predictors of mental health concerns in veterans.

Repeated exposure to traumatic events has consistently been shown to negatively impact mental health functioning; however, the role of timing of such events has received less attention. The present study evaluated the role of trauma that has occurred prior to military service, during service, and across both points in contributing to the most common and deleterious mental health concerns experienced by military personnel: posttraumatic stress, depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. Utah and Idaho National Guard personnel (n = 997) completed online self-report questionnaires of their current posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms, as well as history of potentially traumatic experiences, suicidal thoughts, and actions. Results indicated that history of trauma across time points is associated with negative outcomes across each of these outcomes, with the exception of suicide attempts. Exploratory analyses further revealed that unwanted or uncomfortable sexual experiences (not sexual assault) is the most robust predictor of negative outcomes, with approximately 2 to 7.5 times increased risk for PTSD, depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. The present findings suggest that individuals with history of trauma prior to military service are at increased risk for developing clinically significant mental health problems if exposed to additional potentially traumatic experiences. Further, other unwanted sexual experiences appear to be particularly detrimental to mental health functioning. Potential implications for military recruitment and conceptualization of traumatic events are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).