Search

Background: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi‐symptom disorder affecting 25%–32% of Gulf War veterans. Veterans with GWI disproportionately suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Given the increasing evidence supporting a gut‐brain axis, we explore the relationship between post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), GWI, and self‐reported GI disorders among GW veterans. Methods: Veterans from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository responded to a mail‐based survey (N = 1058). They were stratified by GWI (Centers for Disease Control definition) and PTSD status. This yielded three groups: GWI−, GWI+/PTSD−, and GWI+/PTSD+. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for demographic and military characteristics examined associations between GWI/PTSD groups and GI disorders. Results were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Key Results: The most frequently reported GI disorders were irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and colon polyps (CP). The GWI+/PTSD+ group had a higher odds of these disorders than the GWI+/PTSD− group (aORIBS = 3.12, 95% CI: 1.93–5.05; aORGERD = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.44–2.90; aORCP = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.23–2.80), which had a higher odds of these disorders than the GWI− group (aORIBS = 4.38, 95% CI: 1.55–12.36; aORGERD = 2.51 95% CI: 1.63–3.87; aORCP = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.53–4.32). Conclusions & Inferences: GW veterans with GWI and PTSD have significantly higher odds of specific self‐reported GI disorders than the other groups. Given the known bidirectional influences of the gut and brain, these veterans may benefit from a holistic healthcare approach that considers biopsychosocial contributors to the assessment and management of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive affect was examined as a predictor of (1) cardiovascular reactivity during a sadness and an anger recall task and recovery following the protocol, (2) epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NOREPI) reactivity and level during the recall protocol, and (3) the diurnal pattern of salivary cortisol. Sample was 328 individuals. Negative affect, age, race, sex, smoking status, income, and BMI were adjusted. During sadness recall, positive affect was inversely related to systolic blood pressure ( p=.007) and diastolic blood pressure ( p=.049) reactivity, and unrelated to heart rate ( p=.226). Positive affect was unrelated to reactivity during anger recall ( ps>.19), and was unrelated to recovery at the end of the recall protocol. Positive affect was inversely related to the mean level of NOREPI ( p=.046), and unrelated to EPI ( p=.149). Positive affect was inversely related to the increase in cortisol 30 min post awakening ( p=.042), and unrelated to the evening decline in cortisol levels ( p=.174). Positive emotions may be relevant to good health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]