VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP)

Investigator Access 

What's Available

Check with the study contact and publications for information on a public dataset, data archive, data enclave, or website where data might be available.

Available Documentation 

Dates Data are Available

Access Criteria 

Study Characteristics

Objectives

• To provide data on the natural history and outcomes associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Veterans who have utilized the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system
• To determine predictors of a PTSD diagnosis by comparing diagnosed cases to combat-exposed Veterans without a diagnosis of PTSD

Era of Service

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Operation New Dawn (OND)

Population

Male and female combat-exposed Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2009 and have used VA services since 2002.

Study Design

Prospective cohort 

Time Period

2002 - present

Setting

National

N

Time 1: 1,649 participants
Time 2: 1,340 participants
Time 3: 1,202 participants

Response Rate

Time 1: 37.6%
Time 2: 81.3%
Time 3: 72.9%

Recruitment Method

Researchers compiled a list of Veterans who either separated from active duty after serving in OEF/OIF/OND or completed at least one Reserve/Guard deployment in support of OEF/OIF/OND. The study aimed to enroll at least 1,200 Veterans with a recent diagnosis of PTSD in the VA medical record and 400 Veterans without such a diagnosis. Veterans with PTSD diagnosis were randomly selected at a rate of 3:1 relative to a comparison group of Veterans, who were also randomly selected. Potential participants were invited to participate via phone, and those providing informed consent were enrolled in the study.

Compensation

$25 for questionnaires
$50 for questionnaires and diagnostic interview

Data Collected

• Sociodemographic characteristics
• Military history
• PTSD diagnosis
• Suicidal ideation
• Self-assessed effects of military experiences on post-discharge life
• Traumatic brain injury
• Combat exposure
• Quality of life
• Sleep
• Absenteeism
• Life stressors/trauma
• Social support
• Mental health disorders
• Alcohol/drug use
• Anger/hostility
• Treatment utilization
• Functional impairment
• DNA sample (saliva)

Data Collection Methods

• Self-administered questionnaires completed either online or by mail
• Semi-structured telephone interviews with doctoral-level clinicians
• VA administrative databases 
• VA electronic medical records
• DNA samples collected from saliva via the Oragene collection kit

Funding Source

U.S. Department of Defense

Contact

Study Primary Investigator: Raymond C. Rosen, PhD rrosen@neriscience.com
Terry Keane Terry.Keane@va.gov

Selected Publications

Rosen RC, Marx BP, Maserejian NN, Holowka DW, Gates MA, Sleeper LA, Vasterling JJ, Kang HK, Keane TM. Project VALOR: design and methods of a longitudinal registry of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in combat-exposed Veterans in the Afghanistan and Iraqi military theaters of operations. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2012 Mar;21(1):5-16.

Holowka DW, Marx BP, Gates MA, Litman HJ, Ranganathan G, Rosen RC, Keane TM. PTSD Diagnostic Validity in Veterans Affairs Electronic Records of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2014;82(4):569-79.

Kearns JC, Gorman KR, Bovin MJ, Green JD., Rosen RC, Keane TM, Marx BP. The Effect of Military Sexual Assault, Combat Exposure, Postbattle Experiences, and General Harassment on the Development of PTSD and MDD in Female OEF/OIF Veterans. Transl Issues Psychol Sci. 2016;2(4):418-28.

Marx BP, Engel-Rebitzer E, Bovin MJ, Parker-Guilbert KS, Moshier S, Barretto K, Szafranski D, Gallagher MW, Holowka DW, Rosen RC, Keane TM. The Influence of Veteran Race and Psychometric Testing on Veterans Affairs Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Disability Exam Outcomes. Psychol Assess. 2017 Jun;29(6):710-719.

More Information

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