Prevalence of neurological dysfunction and irregularities in people suffering from auto-immune conditions: An Iraqi perspective

Post-traumatic stress disorder is linked with neurological abnormalities that may lead to an increased risk of auto-immune diseases. This study has aimed to evaluate the association between neurological dysfunction and irregularities of post-traumatic stress disorder and auto-immune disorders among Iraq veterans. The study used data on 66,200 Iraq veterans below the age of 55 enrolled in the Veteran Affairs healthcare management from October 2011 to April 2019. The data were analyzed using general linear models with robust error variance and Poisson distribution. Results showed that 28.7% of veterans had PTSD, whereas psychiatric disorders were present in 21.4% of veterans. The findings revealed that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are more likely to experience any of the six autoimmune conditions: inflammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus. The adjusted relative risk is significantly higher among veterans with PTSD than veterans with other psychiatric disorders. Female veterans in Iraq with PTSD have an increased risk of auto-immune diseases compared to their male counterparts. The findings of the study warrant the attention of healthcare professionals to identify and treat PTSD and other psychotic disorders in Iraq veterans to improve their quality of life.