Elevated risk for autoimmune disorders in iraq and afghanistan veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with endocrine and immune abnormalities that could increase risk for autoimmune disorders. However, little is known about the risk for autoimmune disorders among individuals with PTSD.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 666,269 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans under age 55 who were enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system between October 7, 2001, and March 31, 2011. Generalized linear models were used to examine if PTSD, other psychiatric disorders, and military sexual trauma exposure increased risk for autoimmune disorders, including thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus erythematosus, adjusting for age, gender, race, a

SUBMITTER: O'Donovan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4277929 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature