Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Mental health and psychological support in UK armed forces personnel deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011
- Authors:
- JONES Norman, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 204(2), 2014, pp.157-162.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Data are presented relating to the burden of mental ill health in UK armed forces personnel and the effect of support measures including operational, family, welfare and medical support obtained on two occasions some 18 months apart. A total of 2794 personnel completed a survey while deployed to Afghanistan; 1363 in 2011 and 1431 in 2010. Their responses were compared and contrasted. The prevalence of self-report mental health disorder was low and not significantly different between the surveys; the rates of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were 2.8% in 2010 and 1.8% in 2011; for common mental health disorders the rates were 17.0% and 16.0% respectively. Remembering receiving predeployment psychoeducation, perceptions of good leadership and good family support were all significantly associated with better mental health. Seeking support from non-medical sources and reporting sick for medical reasons were both significantly associated with poorer mental health. Over a period of 18 months, deployment mental health symptoms in UK armed forces personnel were fewer than those obtained from a military population sample despite continuing deployment in a high-threat context and were associated with perceptions of support. (Edited publisher abstract)
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.
Effects of home on the mental health of British forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Authors:
- MULLIGAN Kathleen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 201(3), September 2012, pp.193-198.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Most studies of the mental health of UK armed forces are retrospective. However, the Operational Mental Health Needs Evaluation (OMHNE) surveys of personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan took place during deployment. This study analyses the data collected to examine the influence of factors related to home and family life on the mental health of UK armed forces. A total of 2042 British forces personnel were included in the study. Prevalence of common mental disorders was assessed with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and post-traumatic stress disorder with the PTSD Checklist – Civilian version (PCL-C). The prevalence of common mental disorders was 17.8% and of probable PTSD was 2.8%. Perceived home difficulties significantly influenced the mental health of deployed personnel in proportion to the degree of difficulty. This finding was independent of combat exposure and only partially mitigated by being well led and reporting subjectively good unit cohesion; however, the effect of the totality of home-front events was not improved by the latter. Poor perceived military support for the family had a detrimental impact on deployment mental health. The armed forces offer many support services to the families of deployed personnel and, it is suggested, ensuring that the efforts being made on their behalf are well communicated might improve the mental health of deployed personnel.
From nightmare to memories
- Author:
- LOGIE Robin
- Journal article citation:
- Therapy Today, 23(6), July 2012, pp.28-31.
- Publisher:
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of therapy mainly used in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related mental health problems. This article outlines the development of EMDR and its use as a psychological treatment, and describes the process of EMDR therapy sessions from the therapist's and client's perspectives. It reports that use of EMDR has become more diverse and looks in particular at its application in 3 areas: depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and pain. It discusses the effectiveness of EMDR treatment and research into its application. It also briefly explains how to train in EMDR.
Invisible wounds
- Author:
- BROOKS Laura
- Journal article citation:
- Druglink, 24(3), May 2009, pp.12-13.
- Publisher:
- Drugscope
- Place of publication:
- London
Many former soldiers struggle with drug and mental health problems after leaving the army. This article looks at the experiences of two former soldiers, one who became addicted to sleeping tables and another who began using heroin after suffering flashbacks. The article also questions whether enough services are available to help veterans cope.
Abnormal emotional processing in maltreated children diagnosed of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Author:
- BERTO Clara
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 73, 2017, pp.45-50.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Maltreated children usually show a specific pattern of emotional and behavioural symptoms that exceed those relating to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These symptoms have been defined as Complex PTSD (CPTSD). The underlying attentional mechanisms of abnormal emotional processing and their relation to the clinical presentation of CPTSD are not well understood. A visual dot-probe paradigm involving pre-attentive (i.e., 500 ms) and attentive (i.e., 1500 ms) presentation rates of neutral versus emotional (i.e., angry, happy or sad) facial expressions was applied. Twenty-one maltreated CPTSD children were compared with twenty-six controls. The results are as follows: an attention bias away from threatening faces and an attentional bias towards sad faces were observed in maltreated CPTSD children during pre-attentive and attentive processing. Whereas the attentional bias away from angry faces was associated with social problems, the attentional bias towards sad faces was associated with depressive and withdrawn symptoms. Therefore, CPTSD children develop maladaptive negative cognitive styles, which may underlie not only social problems (by a cognitive avoidance of threatening stimuli) but also depressive symptoms (by a cognitive approach to sad stimuli). Attention processing abnormalities should be considered as therapeutic targets for new treatment approaches in this population. (Publisher abstract)
Treating PTSD using the natural environment
- Author:
- PITHOUSE Mat
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 112(5), 2016, pp.16-18.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
This article looks at how the natural environment could be used instead of more traditional therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It discusses the benefits of physical activity and ecotherapy on wellbeing and provides two practice examples. Surf Action offers a service to returning servicemen and women who have been affected physically or psychologically by their experiences and Wild Things offers service users with mental health problems the opportunity to access therapeutic activities outside. (Edited publisher abstract)
PTSD symptom cluster profiles of youth who have experienced sexual or physical abuse
- Authors:
- RUNYON Melissa K., DEBLINGER Esther, STEER Robert A.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 38(1), 2014, pp.84-90.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The research examined whether youth (6–17 years old) who were referred for treatment due to sexual, physical, or both types of abuse presented with distinct profiles of PTSD DSM-IV-TR symptom clusters. When examining data for the 749 youth participants, five PTSD symptom cluster profiles were identified with each profile representing approximately 20% of the youth. The five profiles were also differentiated with respect to being referred for physical or sexual abuse, age, parental ratings of internalising symptoms, and self-reported depression. The youth referred for treatment in the aftermath of child sexual, physical, or both sexual and physical abuse presented with different profiles of PTSD symptom clusters thereby suggesting a need for individualised tailoring of evidenced-based treatments. Two cognitive behavioural approaches, designed for traumatised children and either their nonoffending or offending parents, were described for treating youth with the distinct PTSD profiles (Edited publisher abstract)
A clinical follow-up study of reserve forces personnel treated for mental health problems following demobilisation
- Authors:
- JONES N., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 20(2), 2011, pp.136-145.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The Reserves Mental Health Programme (RMHP) provides a clinical service for members of the United Kingdom's Reserve Forces with mental health problems attributable to a recent deployment. Those eligible to access the RMHP include all current and former reservists who have demobilised since January 2003. This follow-up study was conducted of reservists who accessed the RMHP during its first 3 years in order to assess the effectiveness of the service. At baseline and at follow up, measures were administered to examine post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), common mental disorders, and alcohol use. Current occupational functioning at follow up was also accessed. The treatment group with operationally attributable mental health problems was compared to a group deemed not to need treatment. The results indicated that 103 reservists had accessed the service and were offered an initial assessment. The treatment group were more likely to be cases at baseline on all mental health outcome measures other than PTSD, but at follow up, they were no more likely to be so. A one-way ANCOVA was conducted to evaluate treatment outcome; this was not significant for all measures except for PTSD. On completion of treatment, three quarters of serving personnel returned to full occupational fitness. The article concludes that the RMHP appears to offer a clinically and occupationally effective intervention to recently de-mobilised reservists with operationally attributable mental health problems.
Asylum seekers' perspectives on their mental health and views on health and social services: contributions for service provision using a mixed-methods approach
- Authors:
- BERNARDES Dora, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care, 6(4), December 2010, pp.3-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Asylum seekers must deal with their unresolved residential status at a time where their well-being may be fragile. This mixed-methods study aimed to investigate asylum seekers' symptoms of psychological distress, in order to inform the services that should be offered while they wait for the outcome of their asylum application. The study comprised: mental health screening of 29 asylum seekers arrived in the UK using questionnaires; and in-depth interviews with 8 of these asylum seekers' one month later about their subjective experiences of the asylum process, its potential impacts on their mental health, and their suggestions for tackling mental health needs. The asylum seekers originated from 13 countries. Given the potential limitations of using ‘idioms of distress’ across cultures, the interview data provided rich descriptive accounts which helped locate the mental health needs that the asylum seekers experienced in the specificities of each participant's social context. The results revealed that psychological distress such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress is common among asylum seekers, but so are post-migratory living difficulties relating to accommodation, discrimination, worry about family back home, and not being allowed to work. The participants reported mixed experiences of health and social care services. These results suggest that asylum seekers' unique social position may affect their mental health. Implications for practice are presented.