Publications

LeardMann CA, Pietrucha A, Magruder KM, Smith B, Murdoch M, Jacobson IG, Ryan MAK, Gackstetter G, Smith TC, for the Millennium Cohort Study Team. Combat Deployment is Associated with Sexual Harassment or Sexual Assault in a Large, Female Military Cohort. Women's Health Issues, In press.

Among female service members, the 3-year cumulative incidence of sexual harassment was 9.4% and sexual assault was 2.1%. Significant risk factors for sexual trauma included prior deployment with combat experience, serving as a Marine, younger age, recent marital separation or divorce, positive screen for a prior mental health condition, moderate/severe life stress, and prior sexual trauma experiences. Understanding the factors associated with sexual harassment and assault can inform future policy and prevention efforts in order to eliminate sexual trauma.

Bagnell ME, LeardMann CA, McMaster HS, Boyko EJ, Smith B, Granado, NS, and Smith TC. The association of predeployment and deployment-related factors on dimensions of postdeployment wellness in US military service members. The American Journal of Health Promotion; In press.

This study found that the majority of participants were well post-deployment, and military factors associated with post-deployment wellness included not experiencing combat and being trained as a combat specialist. Modifiable factors significantly associated with post-deployment wellness were also detected, including normal BMI, not smoking, and being physically active.

Pinder RJ, Greenberg N, Boyko EJ, Gackstetter GD, Hooper TI, Murphy D, Ryan MA, Smith B, Smith TC, Wells TS, Wessely S, for the Millennium Cohort Study Team. Profile of two cohorts: UK and US prospective studies of military health. International Journal of Epidemiology; In press.

Despite differences and limitations in methodologies, analyses of these two cohorts provide the prospect of driving improvement and innovation in military health and extending findings to other occupational populations.

Horton JL, Jacobson IG, Wong CA, Wells TS, Boyko EJ, Smith B, Ryan MA, and Smith TC. The impact of prior deployment experience on civilian employment after military service. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2013; 70: 408-417.

Employment after military service, in particular after stressful deployment experiences, is a concern for many veterans and policymakers. Among this large cohort of veterans, we found that prior deployment and PTSD were not significantly associated with job status post-service; in contrast, depression, panic/anxiety disorder, and poor physical health increased the risk of unemployment among certain groups. These findings may guide policy for veterans most in need of post-military employment support.

Wells TS, Horton JL, LeardMann CA, Jacobson IG, and Boyko EJ. A comparison of the PRIME-MD PHQ-9 and PHQ-8 in a large military prospective study, the Millennium Cohort Study. Journal of Affective Disorders. May 2013; 148(1): 77-83.

The PHQ-9 is a validated tool for depression screening, however recently an abbreviated version (PHQ-8) is increasingly being used in survey research that excludes the last and most sensitive item. This study compared the performance of the PHQ-8 with the PHQ-9 in a large, population-based sample of current and former military service members. Excellent agreement was detected between the two instruments, suggesting that the PHQ-8 performs well when screening for depression in similar populations.

The Millennium Cohort Study is a Department of Defense research project at the DoD Center for Deployment Health Research, located in San Diego, California. Note DMDC Reference Number 00-0019, RCS Number DD-HA(AR)2106, OMB Approval Number 0720-0029, ASD/HA/TMA Protocol Number CDO-06-206, and Primary IRB Protocol Number NHRC.2000.0007