EPP279
Reduced Mortality and Suicide Rates Among Israeli Veterans with PTSD Recognition: A Retrospective Analysis
M. Frist 1,*, G. Lubin 1, N. Goldberger 2, Z. Haklai 2, A. Zeichner 3, T. Galil 3
1The Jerusalem Mental Health Center, 2Statistical Center, The Israeli Ministry of Health, 3Rehabilitation Department, The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Jerusalem, Israel
Introduction: Research has shown a tendency towards higher mortality and suicide rates among veterans with PTSD compared to the general population.
Objectives: To examine mortality, causes of death, and suicide rates among Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) veterans diagnosed with PTSD and formally recognized by the Ministry of Defense, and to compare these rates with those observed in the general Israeli population.
Methods: This research compared total mortality rates for male PTSD-diagnosed veterans with national data for 1999–2023, for causes-of-death and suicides for 1999–2022 and for suicide attempts for 2004-2023. Age-standardized rates were calculated for overall mortality, causes of death, suicides and suicide attempts and rate-ratios and SMR's computed compared to the general population.
Results: Contrary to expectations and previous international findings suggesting higher mortality among veterans diagnosed with PTSD, our analysis revealed lower mortality rates for Israeli veterans recognized by the Rehabilitation Division in the Ministry of Defense as having a PTSD diagnosis compared with the general population. The rate ratios for male veterans diagnosed with PTSD only and those with PTSD and additional disabilities were 0.94 and 0.73, respectively. Mortality rates were lower for all causes apart from respiratory diseases and COVID-19. In particular, suicide mortality rates were non-significantly lower, SMR= 0.87 (95% CI = 0.46-1.48). However, suicide attempt rates were higher than the general population, the age-standardized rate ratio was 6.3 for veterans with PTSD only and 3.2 for those with PTSD and additional disabilities.
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Conclusions: Our findings show the importance of timely recognition of PTSD in Israeli veterans and continued targeted interventions, long-term psychiatric follow-up, and community-based mental health interventions for this population to maintain lower mortality and suicide rates and address their higher suicide attempt rates. They highlight unique Israeli social and organizational factors that may contribute to the lower rates found.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared