Exploring the acute cardiovascular effects of Floatation-REST.

Unlabelled: The central nervous system (CNS) exerts a strong regulatory influence over the cardiovascular system in response to environmental demands. Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) is an intervention that minimizes stimulation from the environment, yet little is known about the autonomic consequences of reducing external sensory input to the CNS. We recently found that Floatation-REST induces a strong anxiolytic effect in anxious patients while paradoxically enhancing their interoceptive awareness for cardiorespiratory sensations.

General distress is more important than PTSD's cognition and mood alterations factor in accounting for PTSD and depression's comorbidity.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are highly comorbid and exhibit strong correlations with each other at both the symptom level and latent factor level. Various theories have attempted to explain this relationship. Results have been inconsistent regarding whether PTSD's negative alterations in cognition and mood factor (NACM) is significantly more related to depression, in contrast to other factors of PTSD.

Incidence and Risk for Mood and Anxiety Disorders in a Representative Sample of Ohio Army National Guard Members, 2008-2012.

Objective: We investigated the incidence of first-onset psychiatric disorders among Ohio Army National Guard members and the sociodemographic and military factors associated with these incident disorders. We aimed to identify potential risk factors and mitigating factors for a range of psychiatric disorders in a representative military sample.

Methods: We analyzed data on a representative sample of 528 Ohio Army National Guard members who were assessed in person annually for first-onset psychiatric disorders from 2008 through 2012 using structured clinical interviews.

Retrospective age-of-onset and projected lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders among U.S. Army National Guard soldiers.

Background: The study of military-related mental health has been disproportionately focused on current symptomology rather than potentially more informative life course mental health. Indeed, no study has assessed age-of-onset and projected lifetime prevalence of disorders among reservists.

Methods: Age-of-onset and projected lifetime DSM-IV anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders were assessed in 671 Ohio Army National Guard soldiers aged 17-60 years.

Onset of Alcohol Use Disorders and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in a Military Cohort: Are there Critical Periods for Prevention of Alcohol Use Disorders?

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are commonly comorbid with anxiety and mood disorders; however, a strategy for AUD prevention remains unclear in the presence of three competing etiological models that each recommends different high-risk groups. Therefore, the investigation of the three hypotheses in a characteristically unique cohort is critical to identifying pervasive characteristics of AUD that can inform a universal prevention strategy. The current study evaluated the temporality and onset of comorbid AUD and psychiatric disorders in a representative sample of 528 Ohio Army National Guard soldiers using structured clinical interviews from 2009 to 2012.

Latent dimensions of posttraumatic stress disorder and their relations with alcohol use disorder.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in order to further our understanding of the substantial comorbidity between these two disorders.

Methods: CFA was used to examine which factors of PTSD's dysphoria model were most related to AUD in a military sample. Ohio National Guard soldiers with a history of overseas deployment participated in the survey (n = 1215).

A Descriptive Analysis of Factors Leading to a 1-Year Remission in Bipolar Disorder.

Background: Bipolar spectrum disorders are associated with symptomatic and functional disability in many patients. Other studies have examined predictors of outcome with variable results. The goal of this retrospective study was to identify medications associated with a minimum of 12 consecutive months of symptomatic, functional, and syndromal remission.

Latent profile analyses of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in trauma-exposed soldiers.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is comorbid with major depressive disorder (MDD; Kessler et al., 1995) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; Brown et al., 2001).

Posttraumatic stress disorder's dysphoria dimension and relations with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms.

The present study investigated symptom relations between two highly comorbid disorders--posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)--by exploring their underlying dimensions. Based on theory and prior empirical research it was expected that the dysphoria factor of PTSD would be more highly related to GAD. As part of a longitudinal project of mental health among Ohio National Guard Soldiers, 1266 subjects were administered the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7).

Structural relations between DSM-5 PTSD and major depression symptoms in military soldiers.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are frequently comorbid. One explanation for this comorbidity is that PTSD has a constellation of "dysphoria" symptoms resembling depression.

Method: Using confirmatory factor analysis we tested the role of DSM-5 PTSD׳s dysphoria factor in relation to MDD symptom dimensions of somatic and non-somatic psychopathology.

Lifetime and 12-month use of psychiatric services among U.S. Army National Guard soldiers in Ohio.

Objective: The individual and economic burden of psychiatric illnesses is substantial. Although treatment of psychiatric disorders mitigates the burden of illness, over half of military personnel with disorders do not receive mental health care. However, there is a paucity of research examining the relationship between psychiatric disorder categories and treatment-seeking behavior in representative military populations.

Baseline prevalence of Axis I diagnosis in the Ohio Army National Guard.

The goal of this study is to determine the pre-existing lifetime and current prevalence of DSM-IV Axis I disorders within the Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG). Data was analyzed from the clinical subsample of the Ohio Army National Guard Mental Health Initiative (OHARNG MHI). Five hundred participants were provided with an in-depth clinical assessment using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR (SCID).

Validation of lay-administered mental health assessments in a large Army National Guard cohort.

To report the reliability and validity of key mental health assessments in an ongoing study of the Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG). The 2616 OHARNG soldiers received hour-long structured telephone surveys including the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) checklist (PCV-C) and Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9). A subset (N = 500) participated in two hour clinical reappraisals, using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID).

Validation of the telephone-administered PHQ-9 against the in-person administered SCID-I major depression module.

Background: We assessed item-to-item correspondence between the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) major depression episode portion of the major depressive module.

Method: Four hundred and ninety-eight soldiers in the Ohio National Guard were administered the PHQ-9 and SCID-I. Data were analyzed using chi-square analyses, logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses and diagnostic efficiency statistics.

Relations between the underlying dimensions of PTSD and major depression using an epidemiological survey of deployed Ohio National Guard soldiers.

Background: In the present study, the authors investigated the relationship between the underlying symptom dimensions of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dimensions of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: A sample of 1266 Ohio National Guard soldiers with a history of overseas deployment participated and were administered the PTSD Checklist (assessing PTSD) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (assessing depression).

Results: Using confirmatory factor analysis, results demonstrated that both PTSD's dysphoria and hyperarousal factors were more related to depression's somatic than non-somatic factor.

The factor structure of major depression symptoms: a test of four competing models using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

Little research has examined the underlying symptom structure of major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms based on DSM-IV criteria. Our aim was to analyze the symptom structure of major depression, using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 was administered to a sample of 2615 Army National Guard soldiers from Ohio.

Measurement differences from rating posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in response to differentially distressing traumatic events.

The authors explored differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a result of rating symptoms from two separate, differentially distressing traumatic events. In an initial sample of 400 nonclinical participants, the authors inquired through a web survey about previous psychological trauma, instructing participants to nominate their most distressing and second most distressing traumatic events experienced. Using the PTSD Checklist, participants rated their PTSD symptoms separately from these worst and second worst events.

PTSD factor structure differences between veterans with and without a PTSD diagnosis.

This study examined differences in posttraumatic stress disorder's (PTSD) factor structure between veterans with and without a PTSD diagnosis. An archival dataset of 378 trauma-exposed Canadian veterans (mostly men) was used. The sample was divided into participants who met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD (n=230) and those who did not (n=148), based on a structured diagnostic interview.

Potentially modifiable pre-, peri-, and postdeployment characteristics associated with deployment-related posttraumatic stress disorder among ohio army national guard soldiers.

Purpose: To evaluate potentially modifiable deployment characteristics-- predeployment preparedness, unit support during deployment, and postdeployment support-that may be associated with deployment-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: We recruited a sample of 2616 Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG) soldiers and conducted structured interviews to assess traumatic event exposure and PTSD related to the soldiers' most recent deployment, consistent with DSM-IV criteria. We assessed preparedness, unit support, and postdeployment support by using multimeasure scales adapted from the Deployment Risk and Resilience Survey.