Table 2.
Sociodemographic, medical and psychiatric characteristics of veterans (N = 253)
| Sociodemographic data | Number (percentage) of all veterans |
| Male | 233 (92%) |
| Race | |
| White | 193 (76.3%) |
| Black | 47 (18.6%) |
| Other | 13 (5.1%) |
| Branch of service | |
| Army | 153 (60.5%) |
| Marines | 53 (20.9%) |
| Navy | 26 (10.3%) |
| Air Force | 21 (8.3%) |
| Service era | |
| World War II | 7 (2.8%) |
| Korea | 8 (3.2%) |
| Vietnam | 180 (71.1%) |
| Gulf War I | 36 (14.2%) |
| Other conflicts | 22 (8.7%) |
| Medical and psychiatric diagnoses | |
| PTSD | |
| At least moderate severity | 139 (54.9%)a |
| Subthreshold severity | 60 (24.0%)a |
| MDD | 163 (64.4%) |
| Nicotine abuse/dependence (lifetime) | 98 (38.7%) |
| Substance abuse/dependence (past) | 102 (40.3%) |
| Alcohol abuse/dependence (past) | 174 (68.8%) |
| Co-morbid PTSD and MDD | 104 (41.1%)b |
| Co-morbid PTSD and lifetime nicotine abuse/dependence | 53 (20.9%) |
| Co-morbid PTSD and past substance abuse/dependence | 67 (26.5%) |
| Co-morbid PTSD and past alcohol abuse/dependence | 107 (42.3%) |
| Metabolic syndrome (prevalence) | 101 (39.9%)c |
| PTSD only and metabolic syndrome | 12 (34.3%)d |
| MDD only and metabolic syndrome | 17 (28.8%)e |
| PTSD, MDD and metabolic syndrome | 48 (46.2%)f |
| Other factors: | |
| Age (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) = 51.5 ± 9.0 years | |
| Length of education (mean ± SD) = 12.9 ± 2.4 years | |
| CAPS score (mean ± SD) = 62.8 ± 29.4 years. | |
aThose identified as meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were subclassified into subthreshold (Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) < 65) or moderate to severe PTSD (CAPS ≥ 65).
bDiagnosis of PTSD if CAPS ≥ 65; diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) determined by structured psychodiagnostic clinical interview.
cMetabolic syndrome status if three of five criteria are present (serum triglycerides at least 150 mg dl-1, high-density lipoprotein less than 35 mg dl-1, blood pressure at least 130/85 mm/Hg, waist-to-hip ratio at least 0.90 for men and at least 0.85 for women, and plasma glucose concentration at least 110 mg dl-1).
dPercentage of those with PTSD only who meet criteria for metabolic syndrome.
ePercentage of those with MDD only who meet criteria for metabolic syndrome.
fPercentage of those with both PTSD and MDD who meet criteria for metabolic syndrome.