0933 The Relationship between Deployment Risk and Nightmares

Abstract

Introduction: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is caused by exposure to an event or stressor that is perceived as being traumatic. Prevalence for PTSD in veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) has been found to be 29%. Nightmares are one of the most common symptoms of PTSD, but are poorly understood. The present study examined the impact of pre-deployment factors, war-zone experiences, and post-deployment experiences on nightmare frequency. Method(s): Thirty combat OEF/OIF veterans (PTSD, n=20; control, n=10) were recruited for a study examining neurobiological and neuropsychological factors associated with PTSD. Post-deployment symptomatology was assessed using six scales from Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory (DRRI) (Deployment concerns; Combat experiences; Post-battle experiences; Exposure to nuclear, biological, chemical agents; Post-deployment support; Post-deployment life events), Combat Exposure Scale (CES) and Trauma Exposure Assessment (TEA). Nightmares were assessed using the Nightmare Effects Survey (NES), Nightmare Distress Scale (NDS) and Nightmare Frequency Questionnaire (NFQ). Relationships among variables were examined in correlational and regression analyses. Only results significant at p<0.05 are reported. Result(s): The DRRI combat experience scale was associated with the TEA and CES. The DRRI exposure scale was positively connected with the TEA and NFQ. The post-deployment life events scale was associated with the TEA, CES, NDS, and NFQ. Deployment concerns was related to the TEA, NDS, and NFQ while the post-battle experiences were correlated with the TEA, NDQ, and NFQ. Conclusion(s): Subjects who endorsed higher lifetime trauma were more likely to report a higher risk of negative mental health outcomes. The DRRI scales used in this study suggest that nightmares may not only be the result of combat exposure but also the factors relating to pre and post-deployment. These findings indicate a strong correlation between social support and life events following deployment and nightmare distress and frequency. Further research is needed in this area to determine the factors driving nightmare prevalence in this population.