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. 2022 Jun 28;17(6):e0270515. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270515

Table 3. Adjusted odds ratios for screening positive for mental health disorders, trouble sleeping, and problem drinking by type of combat exposure.

Model Mental health disordersa Trouble sleepingb Problem drinkingc
AOR (95% CI) AOR (95% CI) AOR (95% CI)
Model 1: Combat severityd n = 6,250 n = 6,247 n = 6,236
 Low (0–6 items) 1.00 1.00 1.00
 High (7–12 items) 2.90 (2.48, 3.38) 2.13 (1.90, 2.38) 1.43 (1.23, 1.65)
Model 2: Type of combat evente n = 6,204 n = 6,201 n = 6,190
Fightingf
 No 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Yes 0.97 (0.72, 1.29) 1.10 (0.91, 1.34) 1.53 (1.17, 2.00)
Killingg
 No 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Yes 2.14 (1.85, 2.48) 1.83 (1.62, 2.07) 1.27 (1.10, 1.47)
Threat to oneselfh
 No 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Yes 1.51 (1.25, 1.82) 1.29 (1.13, 1.48) 0.93 (0.79, 1.11)
Death/injury of othersi
 No 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Yes 1.82 (1.32, 2.49) 1.35 (1.10, 1.64) 1.27 (0.97, 1.66)
Model 3: Type of killingj,k n = 6,204 n = 6,201 n = 6,190
 Neither 0.56 (0.48, 0.65) 0.61 (0.54, 0.69) 0.95 (0.81, 1.11)
 Enemy combatant only 1.00 1.00 1.00
 Noncombatant 2.14 (1.74, 2.63) 1.75 (1.42, 2.16) 2.12 (1.71, 2.63)

AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; IED, improvised explosive device; PHQ, Patient Health Questionnaire; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder.

Significant results are shown in bold.

a Mental health disorders is defined as endorsement of PTSD, depression, panic, or anxiety.

b Trouble sleeping is based on an endorsement of having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

c Problem drinking is based on endorsement of any of the five PHQ alcohol items.

d Model 1 was adjusted for occupational specialization, race and ethnicity, marital status, education, age, panel, component, and rank. A separate model was run for each outcome.

e Model 2 was adjusted for occupational specialization, race and ethnicity, marital status, education, age, panel, component and rank. A separate model was run for each outcome.

f Fighting includes being attacked or ambushed, receiving small arms fire, or clearing/searching buildings.

g Killing includes being directly responsible for the death of an enemy combatant or a noncombatant.

h Threat to oneself includes having an IED explode near you or being wounded or injured.

i Death/injury of others includes seeing dead bodies, handling human remains, knowing someone injured/killed, seeing Americans injured/killed, or having a unit member injured/killed).

j Type of killing was categorized as “neither,” “enemy combatant only,” and “noncombatant.” Almost all who reported being responsible for the death of a noncombatant also reported being responsible for the death of an enemy combatant.

k Model 3 was adjusted for occupational specialization, fighting, threat to oneself, death/injury of others, race and ethnicity, marital status, education, age, panel, component and rank. A separate model was run for each outcome.