SUBSYNDROMAL POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL DIFFICULTIES IN VETERANS OF OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM AND IRAQI FREEDOM

Background: This study examined health and psychosocial correlates of subsyndromal/partial posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and full PTSD in veterans Of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Methods: Five hundred and fifty-seven OEF/OIF veterans in Connecticut completed measures of PTSD and health and psychosocial functioning. Results: A total 22.3% of the sample met screening criteria for partial PTSD and 21.5% for full PTSD. Veterans with partial PTSD reported an intermediate level of impairment (e.g., health ratings, work problems, relationship problems) relative to veterans without PTSD and veterans with full PTSD. Conclusions: These results suggest that subsyndromal/partial PTSD is associated with significant health and psychosocial difficulties and underscore the importance of assessing for partial PTSD in OEF/OIF veterans. Depression and Anxiety 26.739-744, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.