Does body mass index moderate the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation in Iraq/Afghanistan veterans?

Julie A Kittel; Bryann B DeBeer; Nathan A Kimbrel; Monica M Matthieu; Eric C Meyer; Suzy Bird Gulliver; Sandra B Morissette

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2016.07.039

Does body mass index moderate the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation in Iraq/Afghanistan veterans?

Psychiatry Res. 2016 Oct 30:244:123-9. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.07.039. Epub 2016 Jul 22.

Authors

Julie A Kittel¹, Bryann B DeBeer², Nathan A Kimbrel³, Monica M Matthieu⁴, Eric C Meyer², Suzy Bird Gulliver⁵, Sandra B Morissette⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX, USA. Electronic address: Julie.kittel@va.gov.
² Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX, USA; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
³ Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
⁴ Saint Louis University, College for Public Health and Social Justice, School of Social Work, St. Louis, MO, USA; VA Mental Health QUERI, Patient Safety Center of Inquiry on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Service, Central Arkansas VA Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, USA.
⁵ Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Warriors Research Institute, Baylor, Scott & White Health, Waco, TX, USA.
⁶ The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Psychology, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Abstract

Suicide, PTSD, and obesity co-occur at high rates among returning veterans, yet limited research exists regarding the relationship among these variables. Self-report and diagnostic interview data from a longitudinal study of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (N=130) enrolled in VA healthcare examined these inter-relations. As hypothesized, body mass index (BMI) significantly moderated the association between PTSD and suicidal ideation such that the association between PTSD and suicidal ideation was strongest among individuals with a high BMI. Programs that focus on health promotion, trauma treatment, and weight management should continue to monitor suicide risk.

Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

MeSH terms

Adult
Afghan Campaign 2001-*
Afghanistan
Body Mass Index*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Iraq
Iraq War, 2003-2011*
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Self Report
Self-Injurious Behavior / diagnosis
Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology
Self-Injurious Behavior / therapy
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy
Suicidal Ideation*
Suicide / psychology
Suicide Prevention
Veterans / psychology*

Abstract

MeSH terms

Grants and funding