Abstract:
Interest in mental health problems in the military has been growing. However, the
research to date has focused on posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. This study
focuses on panic disorder and panic attacks, which are common, potentially disabling,
and associated with a number of other mental health problems. This study is the first to
examine panic disorder in detail in the military and extends the literature to include panic
attacks, which have never been examined in this population. Using the Canadian
Community Health Survey: Canadian Forces Supplement (n=8441), I investigated
associations between panic disorder and panic attacks with a wide range of mental and
social variables. Panic attacks and panic disorder were both positively associated with
reduction of activities, two-week disability, psychological distress, mental disorders,
suicidal ideation, and using self-soothing and avoidant coping strategies. These results
have important implications for treatment and prevention efforts in the Canadian military.
