Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Mental health consequences of overstretch in the UK armed forces
- Authors:
- RONA Roberto J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Medical Journal, 22.09.07, 2007, pp.603-607.
- Publisher:
- British Medical Association
This study aimed to assess the relation between frequency and duration of deployment of UK armed forces personnel on mental health. Operational history in past three years of a randomly chosen stratified sample of 5547 regulars with experience of deployment was used in the study. Main outcome measures were psychological distress (general health questionnaire-12), caseness for post-traumatic stress disorder, physical symptoms, and alcohol use (alcohol use disorders identification test). Results found personnel who were deployed for 13 months or more in the past three years were more likely to fulfil the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, show caseness on the general health questionnaire, and have multiple physical symptoms. A significant association was found between duration of deployment and severe alcohol problems. Exposure to combat partly accounted for these associations. The associations between number of deployments in the past three years and mental disorders were less consistent than those related to duration of deployment. Post-traumatic stress disorder was also associated with a mismatch between expectations about the duration of deployment and the reality. The authors conclude a clear and explicit policy on the duration of each deployment of armed forces personnel may reduce the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. An association was found between deployment for more than a year in the past three years and mental health that might be explained by exposure to combat.
Unsung heroes: developing a better understanding of the emotional support needs of service families
- Author:
- FOSSEY Matt
- Publisher:
- Centre for Mental Health
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 32p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This brief report looks at some of the pressing issues that affect the families of serving personnel and veterans, particularly those of recent conflicts. Focusing on evidence from the UK, it draws together what is known about how the families and children of Service personnel are supported to deal with the emotional and psychological impact of deployment and training. It examines the services already in place for families and identifies areas where more evidence is necessary. It concentrates on 4 areas of particular interest: the importance of family; alcohol and families; domestic violence; and mental health. The report looks at the practical initiatives to support service families in housing, health care and education, and calls for more research to be conducted around the impact of mental health problems on families and the effectiveness of existing family support, the impact on Service families of alcohol misuse and domestic violence. It concludes by making a series of recommendations as to where further research should be conducted and how services should be configured to meet the needs of Service families.
Across the wire: veterans, mental health and vulnerability
- Author:
- FOSEY Matt
- Publisher:
- Centre for Mental Health
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 20p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper explores what is known from the published literature about the mental health of people who have served in the armed forces, about the links between mental health and alcohol use in service personnel, and about veterans in the criminal justice system. There appears to be a specific group of people whose needs are not met fully on discharge. This group mainly consists of single young men, with difficulties in adjusting to change, poor social skills and limited basic education, who leave the services early. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not the most common mental health problem experienced by veterans. Depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse are far more prevalent, especially among young men leaving the services early. Veterans are less likely to go to prison than the general population. They are reported to comprise approximately 3.5% of the total prison population, which is about 20% fewer veterans in prison compared with a similarly matched non-veteran population. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations.
Help-seeking and receipt of treatment among UK service personnel
- Authors:
- IVERSEN Amy C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 197(2), August 2010, pp.149-155.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
It is inevitable that some armed forces personnel will develop post-conflict mental disorders, and therefore data on help-seeking behaviour and receipt of treatment for mental disorders are important for both research and policy. This study examines mental healthcare service use and receipt of treatment in a sample of the UK military. The participants were drawn from an existing UK military health cohort. The sample was stratified by reserve status and by participation in the main war-fighting period of the Iraq War. A total of 821 participants completed a telephone-based structured diagnostic interview comprising the Patient Health Questionnaire and Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen (PC–PTSD), and a series of questions about service utilisation and treatment receipt. The results showed that only 23% of those with common mental disorders and still serving in the military were receiving any form of medical professional help. Non-medical sources of help such as chaplains were more widely used. Among regular personnel in receipt of professional help, most were seen in primary care (79%) and the most common treatment was medication or counselling/psychotherapy. Few regular personnel were receiving cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). These findings are comparable with those reported for the general population.
The mental health of veterans: executive briefing
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 8p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Many veterans (ex-members of the armed forces) who develop mental health problems experience a common mental disorder such as depression or anxiety, with a smaller number being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. Veterans also experience a high rate of alcohol abuse, which can be linked to mental health problems. Post-deployment reservists appear to be at a greater risk of developing psychiatric problems than regular service personnel, and younger men who have served for a relatively short period are at higher risk of suicide and are more likely to experience problems returning to civilian life. Many veterans do not seek help for their problems, partly because of the stigma attached to mental illness, or because they lack confidence that civilian health professionals will understand the military context. More needs to be done both in terms of understanding the origins and range of mental health problems that veterans may have, and providing accessible and appropriate services.
Post-traumatic stress and disability
- Authors:
- NEAL Leigh A., GREEN Gillian, TURNER Mark A.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 184(3), March 2004, pp.247-250.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Post-traumatic stress is thought to account for significant disability. It is also known to be highly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions such as depression and alcohol dependence. The aim was to determine the relationship between post-traumatic stress, depression, alcohol dependence and disability. Seventy armed services personnel were assessed for DSM–IV diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence, and with continuous measures of symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and alcohol dependence following a traumatic event. These variables, as predictors of disability (using the Sheehan Disability Scale), were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance, analysis of covariance and multiple regression backward elimination models. No significant interaction was found for the diagnostic variables even after controlling for the continuous symptom measures. In the regression models, symptoms of depression were a significant predictor of total disability (R2=0.39). Symptoms of alcohol dependence and post-traumatic stress did not significantly predict disability. Since post-traumatic stress was not found to be associated with disability, its clinical importance may be questionable.
Skills for recovery: a recovery-oriented dual diagnosis group for veterans with serious mental illness and substance abuse
- Authors:
- TOPOR David R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work with Groups, 36(2/3), 2013, pp.222-235.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are at a high risk for abusing alcohol and illicit substances relative to the general population. This use, even in small quantities, can negatively affect mental and physical health. Group therapy is an evidence-based treatment for individuals dually diagnosed with SMI and a substance abuse disorder. The Skills for Recovery group used a recovery-oriented therapy manual for dual diagnoses and was informed by the International Association for Social Work with Groups' Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups throughout the development and implementation of the group. (Publisher abstract)
Health and social outcomes and health service experiences of UK military veterans: a summary of the evidence
- Authors:
- FEAR Nicola, WOOD Dan, WESSELY Simon
- Publisher:
- King's College London. King's Centre for Military Health Research
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 82p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Each year approximately 24,000 men and women leave the British Armed Forces and return to civilian life. There is increasing international recognition, both within the military and in civilian society, of the health and social needs of ex-Service personnel, in particular mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social exclusion. This report reviewed the available evidence on the health and social outcomes, and the health experiences, of former members of the Armed Forces. Key findings included that, whilst in general the health of the veteran community is comparable with that of the general population, rates of heavy drinking are more prevalent among both serving and ex-serving personnel. The most common mental health problems for ex-Service personnel, along with alcohol problems, were depression and anxiety disorders. While the overall rate of suicide is no higher in UK ex-Service personnel than it is in the UK general population, men aged 24 or younger are, however, at an increased risk relative to their general population counterparts. This study also identified barriers to accessing healthcare for both groups, especially the stigma of admitting a need for help, with veterans reporting an additional problem of not knowing where to go for help. The authors also made several recommendations for further research, such as studies should be planned in which data collection starts before either in-Service or post-Service adverse outcomes have occurred, and that evidence on health related outcomes and experiences among ex-Service personnel is reviewed periodically.