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Biomedical subjects

Charles C Engel

Publications and source records attributed to Charles C Engel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Association of posttraumatic stress disorder with somatic symptoms, health care visits, and absenteeism among Iraq war veterans.

OBJECTIVE: Studies of soldiers from prior wars conducted many years after combat have shown associations between combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical health problems. The current Iraq war has posed a considerable PTSD risk, but the association with physical health has not been well studied. METHOD: The authors studied 2,863 soldiers using standardized self-administered screening instruments 1 year after their return from combat duty in Iraq. RESULTS: Among all participants, 16.6% met screening criteria for PTSD. PTSD was significantly associated with lower ratings of general health, more sick call visits, more missed workdays, more physical symptoms, and high somatic symptom severity. These results remained significant after control for being wounded or injured. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of PTSD and its strong association with physical health problems among Iraq war veterans have important implications for delivery of medical services. The medical burden of PTSD includes physical health problems; combat veterans with serious somatic concerns should be evaluated for PTSD.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2006

Millennium Cohort: the 2001-2003 baseline prevalence of mental disorders in the U.S. military.

OBJECTIVES: The 12-month prevalence of common mental illnesses in the United States is estimated to be 26%, accounting for an increasing fraction of all disability in the general population. The U.S. military is a unique group involved in response and defense during times of conflicts and disasters. The mental health of service members affects organizational productivity and effectiveness and is of great importance to the health of U.S. military members and public health in general. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: In the present report, the authors describe the baseline prevalence of mental disorders in a large U.S. military cohort, the Millennium Cohort, established for a 22-year longitudinal study of the health effects of military service. Using crude and weighted prevalence and multivariable logistic regression, the mental health morbidity of the Millennium Cohort is reported for various demographics. RESULTS: These analyses suggest that although the cohort compares favorably to other populations, there are military subpopulations, including women, younger, less educated, single, white, short-term service, enlisted, and Army members, who are at greater odds for some mental disorders. CONCLUSION: With ongoing U.S. involvement in combat operations around the world, these baseline data are essential to assessing long-term mental health morbidity in U.S. military service members.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Stress and stressors of the early phases of the Persian Gulf War.

Soldiers who deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield were exposed to a wide variety of stressors. These stressors from the pre-combat phase of the deployment undoubtedly affect the current health of Gulf War veterans, but the exact mechanisms and linkages are not known. This article examines the nature of those stressors and possible effects on later health of veterans.

Gulf War↗
PubMed2006

Managing future Gulf War Syndromes: international lessons and new models of care.

After the 1991 Gulf War, veterans of the conflict from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other nations described chronic idiopathic symptoms that became popularly known as 'Gulf War Syndrome'. Nearly 15 years later, some 250 million dollars in United States medical research has failed to confirm a novel war-related syndrome and controversy over the existence and causes of idiopathic physical symptoms has persisted. Wartime exposures implicated as possible causes of subsequent symptoms include oil well fire smoke, infectious diseases, vaccines, chemical and biological warfare agents, depleted uranium munitions and post-traumatic stress disorder. Recent historical analyses have identified controversial idiopathic symptom syndromes associated with nearly every modern war, suggesting that war typically sets into motion interrelated physical, emotional and fiscal consequences for veterans and for society. We anticipate future controversial war syndromes and maintain that a population-based approach to care can mitigate their impact. This paper delineates essential features of the model, describes its public health and scientific underpinnings and details how several countries are trying to implement it. With troops returning from combat in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, the model is already getting put to the test.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2006

Explanatory and pragmatic perspectives regarding idiopathic physical symptoms and related syndromes.

In recent years, research-methods literature mainly addressing controlled clinical trials has arisen regarding explanatory and pragmatic treatment trials. Explanatory trials tend to examine causal mechanisms and questions of efficacy and value internal validity (creating optimal study conditions) over generalizability (using study results to understand treatment effects in real-life patient populations). In contrast, pragmatic trials value "external relevance" (generalizability) of study results over "internal elegance" so that clinicians and health policymakers can better understand how treatments might impact their patients and policies. This review draws inspiration from these contrasting explanatory and pragmatic perspectives and develops them for clinical and research pertaining to idiopathic physical symptoms and related syndromes (eg, somatization disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome). Explanatory and pragmatic perspectives are used to examine these idiopathies with regard to causation, case definition, labels, and treatment. It is concluded that idiopathic symptom syndromes are fundamentally pragmatic clinical and research challenges. For epidemiologic and methodologic reasons, the complex explanations for these syndromes remain largely elusive. Even so, scientific and clinical pragmatism offers the opportunity to reduce disagreement between competing medical disciplines and between clinicians and affected patients with regard to irreconcilable etiologic questions and to remain evidence-based in the care of patients.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed2006

Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in battle-injured soldiers.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined rates, predictors, and course of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among seriously injured soldiers during and following hospitalization. METHOD: The patients were 613 U.S. soldiers hospitalized following serious combat injury. Standardized screening instruments were administered 1, 4, and 7 months following injury; 243 soldiers completed all three assessments. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of risk factors were performed. PTSD was assessed with the PTSD Checklist; depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire. Combat exposure, deployment length, and severity of physical problems were also assessed. RESULTS: At 1 month, 4.2% of the soldiers had probable PTSD and 4.4% had depression; at 4 months, 12.2% had PTSD and 8.9% had depression; at 7 months, 12.0% had PTSD and 9.3% had depression. In the longitudinal cohort, 78.8% of those positive for PTSD or depression at 7 months screened negative for both conditions at 1 month. High levels of physical problems at 1 month were significantly predictive of PTSD (odds ratio=9.1) and depression at 7 months (odds ratio=5.7) when the analysis controlled for demographic variables, combat exposure, and duration of deployment. Physical problem severity at 1 month was also associated with PTSD and depression severity at 7 months after control for 1-month PTSD and depression severity, demographic variables, combat exposure, and deployment length. CONCLUSIONS: Early severity of physical problems was strongly associated with later PTSD or depression. The majority of soldiers with PTSD or depression at 7 months did not meet criteria for either condition at 1 month.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Issues in the design of multisite clinical trials of psychotherapy: VA Cooperative Study No. 494 as an example.

This article describes issues in the design of an ongoing multisite randomized clinical trial of psychotherapy for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in female veterans and active duty personnel. Research aimed at testing treatments for PTSD in women who have served in the military is especially important due to the high prevalence of PTSD in this population. VA Cooperative Study 494 was designed to enroll 384 participants across 12 sites. Participants are randomly assigned to receive 10 weekly sessions of individual psychotherapy: Prolonged Exposure, a specific cognitive-behavioral therapy protocol for PTSD, or present-centered therapy, a comparison treatment that addresses current interpersonal problems but avoids a trauma focus. PTSD is the primary outcome. Additional outcomes are comorbid problems such as depression and anxiety; psychosocial function and quality of life; physical health status; satisfaction with treatment; and service utilization. Follow-up assessments are conducted at the end of treatment and then 3 and 6 months after treatment. Both treatments are delivered according to a manual. Videotapes of therapy sessions are viewed by experts who provide feedback to therapists throughout the trial to ensure adherence to the treatment manual. Discussion includes issues encountered in multisite psychotherapy trials along with the rationale for our decisions about how we addressed these issues in CSP #494.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Benefits and harms of doxycycline treatment for Gulf War veterans' illnesses: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that certain Mycoplasma species may cause Gulf War veterans' illnesses (GWVIs), chronic diseases characterized by pain, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms, and that affected patients may benefit from doxycycline treatment. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a 12-month course of doxycycline improves functional status in Gulf War veterans with GWVIs. DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 12 months of treatment and 6 additional months of follow-up. SETTING: 26 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and 2 U.S. Department of Defense medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: 491 deployed Gulf War veterans with GWVIs and detectable Mycoplasma DNA in the blood. INTERVENTION: Doxycycline, 200 mg, or matching placebo daily for 12 months. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who improved more than 7 units on the Physical Component Summary score of the Veterans Short Form-36 General Health Survey 12 months after randomization. Secondary outcomes were measures of pain, fatigue, and cognitive function and change in positivity for Mycoplasma species at 6, 12, and 18 months after randomization. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the doxycycline and placebo groups for the primary outcome measure (43 of 238 participants [18.1%] vs. 42 of 243 participants [17.3%]; difference, 0.8 percentage point [95% CI, -6.5 to 8.0 percentage points]; P > 0.2) or for secondary outcome measures at 1 year. In addition, possible differences in outcomes at 3 and 6 months were not apparent at 9 or 18 months. Participants in the doxycycline group had a higher incidence of nausea and photosensitivity. LIMITATIONS: Adherence to treatment after 6 months was poor. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with doxycycline did not improve outcomes of GWVIs at 1 year.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Projecting mental disorder prevalence from national surveys to populations-of-interest--an illustration using ECA data and the U. S. Army.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric epidemiology can further public health practice and inform mental health policy through the development of methodologies that provide rapid and cost efficient estimation of the prevalence of mental disorders at the local, regional, and population levels. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to illustrate an efficient method for the estimation of mental disorder prevalence in population groups where no direct prevalence data are available. This study demonstrated a new method to extrapolate prevalences from a national calibration survey to a target population where no observations are available and sociodemographic differences are prominent. METHOD: We restricted the ECA sample to full-time employed participants (approximately 10,500) and used the total active duty U. S. Army population (approximately 460,000) for illustration. Sociodemographic data for the Army came from the official military database (mid-year 2000). Our logistic regression projections represented an extension of sociodemographic-driven synthetic methods used among demographers. Outcomes were lifetime prevalences for 13 DIS/DSM disorders. RESULTS: Compared to the ECA employed population, extrapolations to the Army revealed lower/similar estimates for nine of 13 DIS/DSM disorders. Projections were twice as high for alcohol abuse/dependence and antisocial personality, and one-third higher for social phobia and schizophrenia in the Army. Estimates compared favorably to one other military prevalence study, and to results derived using traditional standardization/adjustment methods based on the ECA sample weighted to the working general population. CONCLUSIONS: The synthetic estimation technique using ECA data to project lifetime prevalences for the U. S. Army generated sound estimates while illustrating an attractive method to extrapolate national data to demographically diverse communities seeking policy-relevant data.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Research on the treatment of trauma spectrum responses: the role of the optimal healing environment and neurobiology.

This paper presents a research agenda for the use of optimal healing environments (OHEs) for the treatment (and possible prevention) of the negative effects of exposure to extreme environmental stress or trauma. As background for understanding, this paper starts by briefly introducing the unique perspective of psychiatry in the field of OHEs. It then describes the nature of trauma spectrum responses including the best-known psychiatric response, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a description of the current accepted treatments for PTSD, and the status of research in alternative and complementary treatments for PTSD. These are followed by a discussion of the emerging role of clinical neurobiology in mental health, specifically the potential for the use of neuroimaging in filling a gap in methods of evaluating OHEs in trauma research. Last, it provides a list of important potential topics of research within the fields of trauma responses, neuroscience and OHEs.

Brain↗
PubMed2004

Gulf War veterans' illnesses: a pilot study of the relationship of illness beliefs to symptom severity and functional health status.

This investigation describes the illness beliefs of veterans regarding their Gulf War-related health concerns and investigates the relationship of these illness beliefs to physical and mental health functioning. Gulf War veterans (N = 583) presenting for evaluation at a Veteran's Affairs and Department of Defense facility completed self-report measures of symptom-related beliefs, psychosocial distress, and functional status. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the extent that symptom-related beliefs impacted symptom-reporting and functional status independent of demographic factors and psychiatric illness. Several beliefs predicted physical symptom reporting and functional impairment in physical health and mental health domains after controlling for demographic variables and psychiatric illness. Gulf War veterans' illness beliefs may impact clinical outcomes. Discussing illness beliefs and providing accurate information is an important component of medical care for Gulf War veterans.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation and management of medically unexplained physical symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) and related syndromes are common in medical care and the general population, are associated with extensive morbidity, and have a large impact on functioning. Much of medical practice emphasizes specific pharmacological and surgical intervention for discrete disease states. Medical science, with its emphasis on identifying etiologically meaningful diseases comprised of homogeneous groups of patients, has split MUPS into a number of diagnostic entities or syndromes, each with its own hypothesized pathogenesis. However, research suggests these syndromes may be more similar than different, sharing extensive phenomenological overlap and similar risk factors, treatments, associated morbidities, and prognoses. Examples of syndromes consisting of MUPS include chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, somatoform disorders, and 'Gulf War Syndrome.' REVIEW SUMMARY: This paper is a narrative review of the increasing body of evidence suggesting that MUPS and related syndromes are common, disabling, and costly. It emphasizes that MUPS occur along a continuum of symptom count, severity, and duration and may be divided into acute, subacute (or recurrent), and chronic types. Predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors influence the natural history of MUPS. CONCLUSIONS: Effective symptom management involves collaborative doctor-patient approaches for identification of problems based on a combination of medical importance and patient readiness to initiate behavioral change, negotiated treatment goals and outcomes, gradual physical activation and exercise prescription. Additionally, efforts should be made to teach and support active rather than passive coping with the symptoms.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed2004

Can we prevent a second 'Gulf War syndrome'? Population-based healthcare for chronic idiopathic pain and fatigue after war.

In the 1991 Gulf War less than 150 of nearly 700,000 deployed US troops were killed in action. Today, however, over 1 in 7 US veterans of the war has sought federal healthcare for related-health concerns, and fully 17% of UK Gulf War veterans describe themselves as suffering from the 'Gulf War syndrome', a set of poorly defined and heterogeneous ailments consisting mainly of chronic pain, fatigue, depression and other symptoms. Even though over 250 million dollars of federally funded medical research has failed to identify a unique syndrome, the debate regarding potential causes continues and has included oil well smoke, contagious infections, exposure to chemical and biological warfare agents, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Historical analyses completed since the Gulf War have found that postwar syndromes consisting of chronic pain, fatigue, depression and other symptoms have occurred after every war in the 20th century. These syndromes have gone by a variety of names such as Da Costa's syndrome, irritable heart, shell shock, neurocirculatory asthenia, and battle fatigue. Though the direct causes of these syndromes are typically elusive, it is clear that war sets in motion an undeniable cycle of physical, emotional, and fiscal consequences for war veterans and for society. These findings lead to important healthcare questions. Is there a way to prevent or mitigate subsequent postwar symptoms and associated depression and disability? We argue that while idiopathic symptoms are certain to occur following any war, a population-based approach to postwar healthcare can mitigate the impact of postwar syndromes and foster societal, military, and veteran trust. This article delineates the model, describes its epidemiological foundations, and details examples of how it is being adopted and improved as part of the system of care for US military personnel, war veterans and families. A scientific test of the model's overall effectiveness is difficult, yet healthcare systems for combatants and their families are already being put to pragmatic tests as troops return from war in Iraq and Afghanistan and from other military challenges.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2004

Post-war syndromes: illustrating the impact of the social psyche on notions of risk, responsibility, reason, and remedy.

The 20th century offered many examples of post-war syndromes such as Da Costa's syndrome, irritable heart, shell shock, effort syndrome, medical evacuation syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Gulf War syndrome. These post-war syndromes occur under conditions of substantial medical and scientific uncertainty, conditions that potentially magnify the impact of social context on clinical care for these syndromes. This article reviews the social circumstances surrounding four post-war syndromes. The case is made that social context has significantly impacted professional and lay perceptions of causal mediators, relevant risk factors, defining symptoms, and appropriate therapies for these syndromes. Furthermore, it is argued that social context influences what parties are held responsible for post-war syndromes, and what clinical disciplines are ultimately deemed appropriate to provide legitimate post-war illness care.

Combat Disorders↗
PubMed2003

Cognitive behavioral therapy and aerobic exercise for Gulf War veterans' illnesses: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Gulf War veterans' illnesses (GWVI), multisymptom illnesses characterized by persistent pain, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms, have been reported by many Gulf War veterans. There are currently no effective therapies available to treat GWVI. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exercise, and the combination of both for improving physical functioning and reducing the symptoms of GWVI. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Randomized controlled 2 x 2 factorial trial conducted from April 1999 to September 2001 among 1092 Gulf War veterans who reported at least 2 of 3 symptom types (fatigue, pain, and cognitive) for more than 6 months and at the time of screening. Treatment assignment was unmasked except for a masked assessor of study outcomes at each clinical site (18 Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] and 2 Department of Defense [DOD] medical centers). INTERVENTIONS: Veterans were randomly assigned to receive usual care (n = 271), consisting of any and all care received from inside or outside the VA or DOD health care systems; CBT plus usual care (n = 286); exercise plus usual care (n = 269); or CBT plus exercise plus usual care (n = 266). Exercise sessions were 60 minutes and CBT sessions were 60 to 90 minutes; both met weekly for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was a 7-point or greater increase (improvement) on the Physical Component Summary scale of the Veterans Short Form 36-Item Health Survey at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were standardized measures of pain, fatigue, cognitive symptoms, distress, and mental health functioning. Participants were evaluated at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: The percentage of veterans with improvement in physical function at 1 year was 11.5% for usual care, 11.7% for exercise alone, 18.4% for CBT plus exercise, and 18.5% for CBT alone. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for improvement in exercise, CBT, and exercise plus CBT vs usual care were 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-1.82), 1.72 (95% CI, 0.91-3.23), and 1.84 (95% CI, 0.95-3.55), respectively. The OR for the overall (marginal) effect of receiving CBT (n = 552) vs no CBT (n = 535) was 1.71 (95% CI, 1.15-2.53) and for exercise (n = 531) vs no exercise (n = 556) was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.76-1.50). For secondary outcomes, exercise alone or in combination with CBT significantly improved fatigue, distress, cognitive symptoms, and mental health functioning, while CBT alone significantly improved cognitive symptoms and mental health functioning. Neither treatment had a significant impact on pain. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that CBT and/or exercise can provide modest relief for some of the symptoms of chronic multisymptom illnesses such as GWVI.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Unexplained symptoms after terrorism and war: an expert consensus statement.

Twelve years of concern regarding a possible "Gulf War syndrome" has now given way to societal concerns of a "World Trade Center syndrome" and efforts to prevent unexplained symptoms following the most recent war in Iraq. These events serve to remind us that unexplained symptoms frequently occur after war and are likely after terrorist attacks. An important social priority is to recognize, define, prevent, and care for individuals with unexplained symptoms after war and related events (eg, terrorism, natural or industrial disasters). An international, multidisciplinary, and multiinstitutional consensus project was completed to summarize current knowledge on unexplained symptoms after terrorism and war.

Causality↗
PubMed2003

Priorities for psychiatric research in the U.S. military: an epidemiological approach.

Among the 1.4 million active duty U.S. military service members, 6% receive outpatient treatment for a mental disorder each year. Over 25% of these service members leave military service within 6 months, a rate that is more than two times higher than the rate following treatment for any other illness category. There is clearly a need to define psychiatric research priorities and an unprecedented opportunity to enhance the field of psychiatric research in general using the well-characterized military population. The first priority is to better define the burden of mental disorders in terms of incidence, prevalence, severity, risk factors, and health care use. The impact of mental disorders on occupational functioning, particularly among new recruits, needs to be better characterized. Suicide research should include efforts to validate mortality data, define the normal level of rate variability, and establish surveillance for clusters. The highly structured occupational environment of the military lends itself to studies of preventive interventions designed to reduce disability or occupational attrition resulting from mental/behavioral problems.

Epidemiologic Methods↗