Publications

The following manuscripts have been published or are currently in press. Listings are in chronological order, unless otherwise noted.

Research Publication 2
Title Publication Date/Location
Single and repeated high-level blast, low-level blast, and new-onset self-reported health conditions in the U.S. Millennium Cohort Study: An exploratory investigation Frontiers in Neurology 2023 Mar 21 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.20

Belding JN, Kolaja CA, Rull RP, Trone DW for the Millennium Cohort Study Team

This study examined whether single and repeated high-level blast exposure (e.g., from incoming munitions) and low-level blast exposure (e.g., from outgoing munitions) were associated with 45 different self-reported diagnoses of illness and injury. Outcomes examined included PTSD, depression, hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraines. Findings suggest that blast exposure elevated risks for more than 20 different diagnoses and that repeated exposure was associated with worse outcomes.

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Contribution of Post-Trauma Insomnia to Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women Service Members: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study Sleep 2023 Mar 9 | doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsac313

Carlson GC, Sharifian N, Jacobson IG, LeardMann CA, Rull RP, Martin JL

Post-trauma insomnia contributed to the development of depression and PTSD among women service members and veterans; screening for insomnia may help mitigate the development of posttraumatic mental health conditions.

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Risk and Protective Factors for Cancer Mortality Among United States Service Members and Veterans (2001-2018) Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 2023 May 1 | doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-22-0943

Sharifian N, Carey FR, Seay JS, Castaneda SF, Boyko EJ, Rull RP

This longitudinal study used data from the Millennium Cohort Study (2001-2018) to examine risk and protective factors for cancer mortality among service members and veterans . Compared with those who deployed without combat experiences, non-deployers were more likely to die from cancer, consistent with the healthy deployer effect.

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Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study BMC Medical Research Methodology 2023 Sep 9 | doi: 10.1186/s12874-023-02018-z

Kolaja CA, Belding JN, Boparai SK, Castañeda SF, Geronimo-Hara TR, Powell TM, Tu XM, Walstrom JL, Sheppard BD, Rull RP; Millennium Cohort Study Team

Across a 3-15 year follow-up period, the average response rate among almost 198,833 Millennium Cohort Study participants was 60%. Factors associated with follow-up survey response over time included increased educational attainment, married status, female sex, older age, military deployment, greater life stress, and poorer mental/physical health status.

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Individual and Military Factors That Modify the Association Between Recent Sexual Trauma and Health Outcomes Among U.S. Service Members and Veterans Journal of Interpersonal Violence 2023 Sep | doi: 10.1177/08862605231173909

Seelig AD, Rivera AC, LeardMann CA, Daniel SM, Jacobson IG, Stander VA, Moore BL, Millard DC, Boyko EJ; Millennium Cohort Team

Experiencing recent sexual trauma was associated with PTSD, depression, and multiple somatic symptoms (e.g. physical complaints, bodily distress). These associations remained relatively stable across demographic and military factors but varied in the presence of protective (e.g., social support) and risk factors (e.g., childhood trauma). These findings underscore the complex interplay of trauma and resilience in understanding adverse health outcomes.

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All-Cause Mortality Among United States Military Personnel: Findings From the Millennium Cohort Study Annals of Epidemiology 2024 Aug 28 | doi: 10.1016/j.anne | Online ahead of print

Carey FR, Harbertson J, Sharifian N, Boyko EJ, Rull RP

Previous history of deployment, female sex, and Hispanic ethnicity were protective for mortality, while combat exposure, enlisted rank, being in the Army, and health factors (e.g., stressful life events, smoking, alcohol use) were risk factors for mortality among OEF/OIF/OND service members and veterans over a 20 year period.

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Prospective Comparison of Risk Factors for Firearm Suicide and Non-Firearm Suicide in a Large Population-Based Cohort of Current and Former US Service Members: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study The Lancet Regional Health – Americas 2024 August | doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2024.100802

LeardMann CA, Sharifian N, Warner S, Boyko EJ, Boparai SK, Powell TM, Rull RP, Reger MA, Hoge CW, for the Millennium Cohort Study Team

In this prospective study of over 200,000 US current and former service members, risk factors were similar between firearm and non-firearm suicides. Suicide prevention and intervention strategies may benefit those at risk and may not need to be differentiated by specific demographic, military, or health factors.

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Three-Item Dimensions of Anger Reactions Scale JAMA Network Open 2024 Feb 5 | doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.54741

Forbes D, LeardMann CA, Lawrence-Wood E, Villalobos J, Madden K, Gutierrez IA, Cowlishaw S, Baur J, Adler AB

Given the prevalence of problematic anger and its association with adverse outcomes, it is vital to develop a very brief measure that can be easily included in research and clinical contexts. Using data from two large military samples with current and former service members in Australia and the US, this study reported on a newly developed 3-item Dimensions of Anger Reactions (DAR-3) scale. The DAR-3 assesses anger intensity, frequency, and duration. Results were consistent across the samples in terms of the scale’s reliability, validity, and cut-off score. The DAR-3 has practical utility for military and veteran populations.

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Racial, Ethnic, and Sex Disparities in Mental Health Among U.S. Service Members and Veterans: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study American Journal of Epidemiology 2024 Feb 5 | doi: 10.1093/aje/kwad221

Sharifian N, Kolaja CA, LeardMann CA, Castañeda SF, Carey FR, Seay JS, Carlton KN, Rull RP, Millennium Cohort Study Team

Racial, ethnic, and sex disparities in mental health among service members and veterans persist, even after accounting for sociodemographic, military, health-related and social support factors. Despite increased availability to care among military populations, culturally relevant and targeted outreach are still needed to address these disparities.

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Risk Factors for Homelessness Among Post-9/11 Era Veterans Armed Forces & Society 2024 July 25 | doi.org/10.1177/0095327X24125 | Online ahead of print

Metraux S, Kolaja CA, Crone B, Byrne T, Rull RP, Porter B

Between 2001 and 2016, approximately 2% of 49,323 post-9/11 era Veterans experienced homelessness after military separation. Notable risk factors for homelessness in this population included identifying as non-Hispanic Black, identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, not having a college degree, enlisted pay grade, or receiving a general or other than honorable discharge status.

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