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Military experience can negatively affect parent, child mental health

Two recently published studies indicate symptoms of psychiatric disorders were more prevalent among war veterans and their children compared with civilians.

Nathan A. Kimbrel, PhD, of the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and colleagues assessed associations between non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation among 151 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from the Central Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Suicidal ideation was determined via standardized questionnaires. Ninety percent of the study cohort was male and 67% were white.

Overall, 35% of study participants had PTSD, 21% had depression and 8% had alcohol use disorder.

Fourteen percent of veterans had a history of non-suicidal self-injury, which was a significant predictor of active suicidal ideation.

Study participants who reported self-harming without conscious suicidal intent were five times more likely to engage in active suicidal ideation vs. those who did not self-harm.

Natasha Schvey

“These are people who are purposefully engaging in bodily harm, but the intent is not to commit suicide. There are many reasons why they do this, but this behavior is associated with increased odds of eventually attempting suicide,” Kimbrel said in a press release. “If we can identify veterans engaging in [non-suicidal self-injury] early on, then hopefully we can begin to change their trajectory and put them onto a more positive course. There are treatments that can help. The most important thing is to get veterans at increased risk for suicide into treatment as soon as possible.”

Higher risk for disordered eating

A second study conducted by Natasha A. Schvey, PhD, of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md., and colleagues indicated children of veterans have an increased risk for disordered eating compared with civilian peers.

“Children of military personnel face unique stressors and experience high rates of substance abuse, bullying, victimization, gang affiliation, and reduced access to support services, which may adversely affect physical and psychological health,” Schvey and colleagues wrote in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

To assess risk, researchers compared eating-related psychopathology, depression and social adjustment among female children of military personnel (n = 23) and civilians (n = 105) at high risk for adult obesity. Study participants had BMIs between the 85^th and 97^th percentiles and reported loss-of-control eating. Disordered eating, depression and social adjustment were determined via self-assessments.

Seventeen percent of military-dependents met criteria for binge eating disorder, defined as having one or more episodes of binge eating per week. Two percent of civilians met criteria for binge eating disorder.

Children of military personnel reported greater eating (P = .001), shape (P < .001) and weight concerns (P = .001) compared with civilians and had greater global Eating Disorder Examination scores (P < .001).

When controlling for BMI z scores, race and age, children of military personnel reported more depressive symptoms vs. civilians (P = .044).

Differences in the friendship subscale approached significance, suggesting that children of military personnel reported worse functioning in friendships, according to researchers.

“Overweight female adolescent military-dependents with [loss-of-control eating] may be at greater risk for disordered eating than their civilian peers. Because adolescent girls are already vulnerable to [eating disorders], overweight and depression, any unique risks faced by military-dependents are important to identify,” Schvey and colleagues concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Healio.com/Psychiatry was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures for Kimbrel at the time of publication. Schvey and colleagues report no relevant financial disclosures.