Psychological distress across the deployment cycle: exploratory growth mixture model

Area of Science:

• Military psychology
• Behavioral health research
• Psychological trajectory analysis

Background:

• Combat deployment is linked to adverse behavioral health outcomes.
• Limited understanding exists regarding specific depression and generalized anxiety change patterns post-deployment.
• This study investigates predictive factors for behavioral health risk following combat deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct trajectories of psychological distress (depression and generalized anxiety).
• To determine factors that distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive psychological change patterns.
• To leverage growth mixture modeling for analyzing behavioral health trends.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal data collection from a brigade combat team before, during, and after deployment to Afghanistan.
• Utilized the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) for outcome measurement.
• Employed growth mixture modeling to identify distinct psychological trajectories.

Main Results:

• Three latent trajectories of psychological distress were identified: low-stable, declining, and rising.
• The majority of individuals followed a low-stable trajectory.
• Loneliness and non-combat deployment stressors differentiated the low-stable trajectory from others.

Conclusions:

• Identifying differential adaptation patterns is crucial for effective resource allocation.
• Loneliness emerges as a significant factor for clinical and organizational intervention.
• Understanding these trajectories aids in proactive mental health support for military personnel.