Associations Among Subcortical Volumes With Mental Health In Special Operations Forces Combat Service Members

Abstract Introduction Special Operations Forces (SOF) combat arms and combat support Soldiers are at risk for impaired mental health, such as mood- and stress-related disorders, due to operational and training demands. Additionally, these individuals experience high risk for sustaining mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These mTBIs have also been linked to negative psychological outcomes, such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. Studying mental illnesses and their related symptoms alone does not fully address mental health, which may be better understood by 2 separate but overlapping continua measuring both mental illness and subjective well-being (ie, emotional, psychological, and social well-being). Due to the lack of research in this area, current mental health symptoms in active SOF combat Soldiers in relation to mTBI warrants investigation. Materials and Methods In this study, 113 SOF combat and combat support Soldiers completed self-report psychological and mTBI history measures during an in-person laboratory setting. These psychometric measures included (1) psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory 18), (2) anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item), (3) posttraumatic stress (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5), (4) somatization (Patient Health Questionnaire-15), and (5) subjective well-being (Mental Health Continuum Short Form). Results On average, SOF combat Soldiers endorsed moderate well-being and low psychological distress, somatization, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety. Most SOF combat Soldiers had sustained 1 or more mTBI. We observed mTBI history had significant effects on each dependent variable in the expected directions. History of more mTBIs, controlling for age, was associated with lower subjective well-being as well as higher psychological distress, somatization, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion Although SOF combat Soldiers reported relatively adaptive mental health symptoms across participants, there was considerable variance in the measures reported. Some of the variance in mental health symptoms was accounted for by mTBI history while controlling for age, with reporting higher numbers of lifetime mTBIs and older age being associated with worse mental health symptoms. Longitudinal investigations into these associations and their impact on Soldier performance is warranted.

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Psychological Mood Profiles of Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Forces Personnel

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181397041001131 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 594-598

Author(s):

Richard F. Johnson ◽

Donna J. Merullo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Marine Corps ◽

Positive Mood ◽

Male Athletes ◽

Male Athlete ◽

Standardized Measures ◽

Special Operations ◽

Special Operations Forces ◽

Psychological Mood

Elite male athletes have been portrayed as possessing positive mental health. On standardized measures of mood, they typically score below average on tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion while they score above average on vigor. This mood pattern has been labeled the “iceberg profile” because scores on unhealthful moods fall below the adult norm, while scores on the healthy mood, vigor, fall above the norm. The elite athlete's iceberg profile of moods is generally regarded as a result of physical training and competition. In this study, mood profiles of male military personnel were measured. U.S. Army soldiers and U.S. Marines both exhibited a flattened iceberg profile, scoring no higher than average on the positive mood vigor. In contrast, Special Operations Forces, who are noted for adherence to very demanding exercise routines, exhibited the iceberg profile typical of the elite male athlete: they had a higher than normal vigor score and lower than normal tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion scores.

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Psychedelic Treatment for Trauma-Related Psychological and Cognitive Impairment Among US Special Operations Forces Veterans

Chronic Stress ◽

10.1177/2470547020939564 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 247054702093956

Author(s):

Alan K. Davis ◽

Lynnette A. Averill ◽

Nathan D. Sepeda ◽

Joseph P. Barsuglia ◽

Timothy Amoroso

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Psychological Flexibility ◽

Retrospective Report ◽

Treatment Needs ◽

Special Operations ◽

Special Operations Forces

Background U.S. Special Operations Forces Veterans are at increased risk for a variety of mental health problems and cognitive impairment associated with military service. Current treatments are lacking in effectiveness and adherence. Therefore, this study examined psychedelic treatment with ibogaine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine for trauma-related psychological and cognitive impairment among U.S. Special Operations Forces Veterans. Method We conducted a survey of Veterans who completed a specific psychedelic clinical program in Mexico between 2017 and 2019. Questions probed retrospective reports of mental health and cognitive functioning during the 30 days before and 30 days after treatment. A total of 65 people completed treatment during this time frame and were eligible for contact. Of these, 51 (78%) completed the survey and were included in data analyses (mean age = 40; male = 96%; married = 55%; Caucasian/White = 92%; Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Service = 96%). Results Results indicated significant and very large reductions in retrospective report of suicidal ideation (p < .001; d = −1.9), cognitive impairment (p < .001; d = −2.8), and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (p < .001; d = −3.6), depression (p < .001; d = −3.7), and anxiety (p < .001; d = −3.1). Results also showed a significant and large increase in retrospective report of psychological flexibility (p < .001; d = 2.9) from before-to-after the psychedelic treatment. Increases in the retrospective report of psychological flexibility were strongly associated with retrospective report of reductions in cognitive impairment, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety (rs range −0.61 to −0.75; p < .001). Additionally, most participants rated the psychedelic experiences as one of the top five personally meaningful (84%), spiritually significant (88%), and psychologically insightful (86%) experiences of their lives. Limitations: Several limitations should be considered including the retrospective, self-report, survey design of the study, and the lack of randomization and blinding, thus making these finding preliminary. Conclusion U.S. Special Operations Forces Veterans may have unique treatment needs because of the sequela of problems associated with repeated trauma exposure and the nature of the exposure. Psychedelic-assisted therapy with these under-researched psychedelics may hold unique promise for this population. However, controlled studies are needed to determine whether this treatment is efficacious in relieving mental health and cognitive impairment among U.S. Special Operations Forces Veterans.

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