Factors associated with high functioning despite distress in post-9/11 veterans.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify modifiable factors associated with perceived functioning among veterans with high symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

METHOD: Two hundred fifty-one post-9/11 veterans completed a survey of psychosocial symptoms and functioning; a subset participated in a follow-up survey (n = 109). Latent profile analysis (LPA) at baseline identified groups that differed by level of functioning (high/low). Items utilized in the LPA analysis were derived from the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref self-report measure. Veterans with high PTSD symptoms in both groups were compared and logistic regression was utilized to predict group membership.

RESULTS: Veterans with high functioning/high symptoms (n = 45) had significantly lower alcohol use and sleep problems, and higher postdeployment social support, posttraumatic growth, and optimism than veterans with low functioning/high symptoms (n = 100). Fewer sleep difficulties and higher postdeployment social support and optimism were associated with membership in the high functioning/high symptom group.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the importance of identifying factors that can facilitate higher social, occupational, and general functional capacity for those with high levels of PTSD symptomatology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).