Are common mental disorders more prevalent in the UK serving military compared to the general working population?

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1881-1891 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Goodwin ◽  
S. Wessely ◽  
M. Hotopf ◽  
M. Jones ◽  
N. Greenberg ◽  
...  

BackgroundAlthough the military is considered to be a stressful occupation, there are remarkably few studies that compare the prevalence of common mental disorder (CMD) between the military and the general population. This study examined the prevalence of probable CMD in a serving UK military sample compared to a general population sample of employed individuals.MethodData for the general population was from the 2003 and 2008 collections for the Health Survey for England (HSE) and for the serving military from phases 1 (2004–2006) and 2 (2007–2009) of the King's Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) cohort study. Probable CMD was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The datasets were appended to calculate the odds of CMD in the military compared to the general population.ResultsThe odds of probable CMD was approximately double in the military, when comparing phase 1 of the military study to the 2003 HSE [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1–2.7], and phase 2 to the 2008 HSE (OR 2.3, 95% CI 2.0–2.6) after adjustment for sex, age, social class, education and marital status.ConclusionsServing military personnel are more likely to endorse symptoms of CMD compared to those selected from a general population study as employed in other occupations, even after accounting for demographic characteristics. This difference may be partly explained by the context of the military study, with evidence from previous research for higher reports of symptoms from the GHQ in occupational compared to population studies, in addition to the role of predisposing characteristics.

2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petros Skapinakis ◽  
Scott Weich ◽  
Glyn Lewis ◽  
Nicola Singleton ◽  
Ricardo Araya

BackgroundIndividuals in lower socio-economic groups have an increased prevalence of common mental disorders.AimsTo investigate the longitudinal association between socio-economic position and common mental disorders in a general population sample in the UK.MethodParticipants (n=2406) were assessed at two time points 18 months apart with the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule. The sample was stratified into two cohorts according to mental health status at baseline.ResultsNone of the socio-economic indicators studied was significantly associated with an episode of common mental disorder at follow-up after adjusting for baseline psychiatric morbidity. The analysis of separate diagnostic categories showed that subjective financial difficulties at baseline were independently associated with depression at follow-up in both cohorts.ConclusionsThese findings support the view that apart from objective measures of socio-economic position, more subjective measures might be equally important from an aetiological or clinical perspective.


Author(s):  
Santosh K. Chaturvedi ◽  
Narayana Manjunatha

Common mental disorder (CMDs) are the most common psychiatric disorders in the general population, as well as at primary care. They include a triad of three illnesses—depression, anxiety disorders, and somatoform disorders. Global data suggest that the urban population exceeded the rural population in 2007. Cities provide an opportunity for economic growth and comparatively better healthcare facilities. However, what is worrisome is the increased vulnerability for many illnesses, especially CMDs. This chapter reviews the noteworthy literature about CMDs in cities across the world and discusses some of best practices in treating CMDs in various cities.


JRSM Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 205427041769272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C Jenkins ◽  
Sharon AM Stevelink ◽  
Nicola T Fear

Objective To investigate the self-rated health of the UK military and explore factors associated with poor self-rated health. Compare self-rated health of the military to the general population. Design A cohort study. Participants A total of 7626 serving and ex-serving UK military personnel, aged between 25 and 49; 19,452,300 civilians from England and Wales. Setting United Kingdom (military), England and Wales (civilians). Main outcome measures Self rated health for both populations. Additional data for the military sample included measures of symptoms of common mental disorder (General Health Questionnaire-12), probable post-traumatic stress disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder checklist Civilian Version), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), smoking behaviour, history of self-harm and body mass index. Results In the military sample, poor self-rated health was significantly associated with: common mental disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology, a history of self-harm, being obese, older age (ages 35–49) and current smoking status. However, the majority of military personnel report good health, with levels of poor self-rated health (13%) not significantly different to those reported by the general population (12.1%). Conclusions Self-rated health appears to relate to aspects of both physical and psychological health. The link between poor self-rated health and psychological ill-health emphasises the need for military support services to continue addressing mental health problems.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evaldas Kazlauskas ◽  
Paulina Zelviene

Background: There is a growing understanding of the importance of the social factors of posttraumatic stress disorder. Aims: This study expands research on association between posttraumatic stress and social factors by introducing the measure of the acceptance of social changes and evaluating possible links between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and acceptance of social changes. Methods: A general population sample ( n = 778) aged from 18 to 89 years ( M = 40.2) from Lithuania participated in our study, of whom 68% reported exposure to traumatic events. Posttraumatic stress reactions were measured with the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), and acceptance of social changes was measured with the Acceptance of Social Changes Instrument (SOCHI) developed by the authors of this study. Results: About 8% of the participants had a potential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. Acceptance of social changes was negatively associated with posttraumatic stress. PTSD was related to lower acceptance of social changes ( d = .61). Structural equation model (SEM) revealed the mediating role of PTSD for acceptance of social changes following trauma exposure. Conclusion: Findings of our study indicate that the acceptance of social changes might be an important psychosocial factor of PTSD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 34-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margreet ten Have ◽  
Brenda W.J.H. Penninx ◽  
Saskia van Dorsselaer ◽  
Marlous Tuithof ◽  
Marloes Kleinjan ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 197 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Iversen ◽  
Lauren van Staden ◽  
Jamie Hacker Hughes ◽  
Tess Browne ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
...  

BackgroundFor armed forces personnel, data on help-seeking behaviour and receipt of treatment for mental disorders are important for both research and policy.AimsTo examine mental healthcare service use and receipt of treatment in a sample of the UK military.MethodParticipants 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. 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.ResultsOnly 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.ConclusionsIn the UK armed forces, the majority of those with mental disorders are not currently seeking medical help for their symptoms. Further work to understand barriers to care is important and timely given that this is a group at risk of occupational psychiatric injury.


Thorax ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. thoraxjnl-2021-217675
Author(s):  
Maria Booth Nielsen ◽  
Børge G Nordestgaard ◽  
Marianne Benn ◽  
Yunus Çolak

BackgroundAdiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted protein-hormone with inflammatory properties, has a potentially important role in the development and progression of asthma. Unravelling whether adiponectin is a causal risk factor for asthma is an important issue to clarify as adiponectin could be a potential novel drug target for the treatment of asthma.ObjectiveWe tested the hypothesis that plasma adiponectin is associated observationally and causally (using genetic variants as instrumental variables) with risk of asthma.MethodsIn the Copenhagen General Population Study, we did an observational analysis in 28 845 individuals (2278 asthma cases) with plasma adiponectin measurements, and a genetic one-sample Mendelian randomisation analysis in 94 868 individuals (7128 asthma cases) with 4 genetic variants. Furthermore, in the UK Biobank, we did a genetic two-sample Mendelian randomisation analysis in 462 933 individuals (53 598 asthma cases) with 12 genetic variants. Lastly, we meta-analysed the genetic findings.ResultsWhile a 1 unit log-transformed higher plasma adiponectin in the Copenhagen General Population Study was associated with an observational OR of 1.65 (95% CI 1.29 to 2.08) for asthma, the corresponding genetic causal OR was 1.03 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.42). The genetic causal OR for asthma in the UK Biobank was 1.00 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.00). Lastly, genetic meta-analysis confirmed lack of association between genetically high plasma adiponectin and causal OR for asthma.ConclusionObservationally, high plasma adiponectin is associated with increased risk of asthma; however, genetic evidence could not support a causal association between plasma adiponectin and asthma.


2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 429-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Williams ◽  
A. Cheyne ◽  
S. MacDonald

Aims and MethodOne objective of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' stigma campaign is to improve the public's knowledge about psychiatric illness. There has been little work in the UK on the public's knowledge of the training of psychiatrists and the treatments they use. Using a questionnaire, we compared a sample representing the general population (n=223) with a sample attending psychiatric outpatients (n=67) to assess their level of knowledge.ResultsHalf of the general population sample did not know that psychiatrists were medically qualified, and 80% underestimated the length of psychiatric training. There was variable knowledge of the conditions treated by psychiatrists and treatment methods used, with the outpatient group having better knowledge of drug treatments.CLINICAL IMPLICATIONIf the general public do not know about the training and expertise of psychiatrists, this is likely to limit their willingness to seek treatment for mental illness.


EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Munk Pærregaard ◽  
Sara Osted Hvidemose ◽  
Christian Pihl ◽  
Anne-Sophie Sillesen ◽  
Solmaz Bagheri Parvin ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Evaluation of the neonatal QT interval is important to diagnose arrhythmia syndromes and evaluate side effects of drugs. We aimed at describing the natural history of the QT interval duration during the first 4 weeks of life and to provide reference values from a large general population sample. Methods and results The Copenhagen Baby Heart Study is a prospective general population study that offered cardiac evaluation of newborns. Eight-lead electrocardiograms were obtained and analysed with a computerized algorithm with manual validation. We included 14 164 newborns (52% boys), aged 0–28 days, with normal echocardiograms. The median values (ms, 2–98%ile) for the corrected intervals QTc (Bazett), QTc (Hodges), QTc (Fridericia), and QTc (Framingham) were 419 (373–474), 419 (373–472), 364 (320–414), and 363 (327–405). During the 4 weeks, we observed a small decrease of QTcFramingham, and an increase of QTcHodges (both P < 0.01), while QTcBazett and QTcFridericia did not change (P > 0.05). Applying published QT interval cut-off values resulted in 5–25% of the newborns having QT prolongation. Uncorrected QT intervals decreased linearly with increasing heart rate (HR). Sex and infant size did not affect the QT interval and the gestational age (GA) only showed an effect when comparing the extreme low- vs. high GA groups (≤34 vs. ≥42 weeks, P = 0.021). Conclusion During the 4 weeks QTcFramingham and QTcHodges showed minor changes, whereas QTcBazett and QTcFridericia were stable. The QT interval was unaffected by sex and infant size and GA only showed an effect in very premature newborns. Reference values for HR-specific uncorrected QT intervals may facilitate a more accurate diagnosis of newborns with abnormal QT intervals.


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