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Low-level cognitive ability in young adulthood and other risk factors of depression in an observational cohort study among deployed Danish soldiers

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Nissen, Lars Ravnborg, Karstoft, Karen-Inge, Vedtofte, Mia Sadowa, Nielsen, Anni Brit Sternhagen, Osler, Merete, Mortensen, Erik Lykke, Christensen, Gunhild Tidemann, Andersen, Søren Bo·2019·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
DOI 10.1007/s00127-018-1648-1
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Abstract

PURPOSE: Evidence exists of an association between pre-morbid lower cognitive ability and higher risk of hospitalization for depressive disorder in civilian cohorts. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of cognitive ability at conscription with post-deployment depression and the influence of (1) baseline factors: age, gender, and pre-deployment educational level, (2) deployment-related factors: e.g., war-zone stress and social support, and (3) co-morbid PTSD. METHODS: An observational cohort study linking conscription board registry data with post-deployment self-report data. The study population consisted of Danish Army military personnel deployed to different war zones from 1997 to 2015. The association between cognitive ability at conscription and post-deployment depression was analyzed using repeated-measure logistic regression models. RESULTS: Study population totaled 9716 with a total of 13,371 deployments. Low-level cognitive ability at conscription was found to be weakly associated with post-deployment probable depression after adjustment for more important risk factors like gender, education, and deployment-related factors [odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-0.99]. The co-occurrence rate with PTSD was nearly 60%. When adding co-morbid PTSD as an independent variable, the association between cognitive ability and probable depression became insignificant, OR 0.95, CI 0.89-1.02. CONCLUSIONS: Low cognitive ability at conscription is a risk factor for depression among returning military personnel, but unimportant compared to gender, education, and deployment-related factors. Part of this effect may be related to co-morbid PTSD. Use of cognitive ability score as an isolated selection tool cannot be recommended because of low predictive performance.

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  1. Klein DN, Kotov R, Bufferd SJ (2011) Personality and depres- sion: explanatory models and revies of the evidence. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 7:269-295. https ://doi.org/10.1146/annur ev-clinp sy-03221 0-10454 0.Perso nalit y · DOI

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Authors
Nissen, L. R., Karstoft, K.-I., Vedtofte, M. S., Nielsen, A. B. S., Osler, M., Mortensen, E. L., Christensen, G. T., & Andersen, S. B.
Affiliations
  • The Danish Veteran Centre (DK)
  • Frederiksberg Hospital (DK)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • University of Southern Denmark (DK)
Corresponding author
Nissen, Lars Ravnborg
ORCID
Venue
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-01-08
Volume
54
Issue
4
Pages
497-506
ISSN
  • 0933-7954 (ISSN-L)
  • 1433-9285
DOI
10.1007/s00127-018-1648-1
OpenAlex
W2911224315
Cited by
5
References
36
Citations by year
2021: 2 · 2020: 3
FWCI
1.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
cognitive ability, conscription, military personnel, social support, post-traumatic stress disorder, comorbidities, risk factors, gender differences, educational attainment, military personnel selection, Danish army
MeSH terms
Adult, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Denmark, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Military Personnel, Occupational Diseases, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Logistic Models, Young Adult, Self Report

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