scholarly journals Effects of home on the mental health of British forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

2012 ◽  
Vol 201 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Mulligan ◽  
Norman Jones ◽  
Mark Davies ◽  
Peter McAllister ◽  
Nicola T. Fear ◽  
...  

BackgroundMost studies of the mental health of UK armed forces focus on retrospective accounts of deployment and few sample personnel while they are deployed.AimsThis study reports the results of a survey of deployed personnel, examining the perceived impact of events at home and military support for the family on current mental health during the deployment.MethodSurveys were conducted with 2042 British forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prevalence of common mental disorders was assessed with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was assessed with the PTSD Checklist – Civilian version (PCL-C).ResultsThe 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; the greater the perception of negative events in the home environment, the greater the reporting of adverse mental health effects. This finding was independent of combat exposure and was 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.ConclusionsThe armed forces offer many support services to the partners and families of deployed personnel and ensuring that the efforts being made on their behalf are well communicated might improve the mental health of deployed personnel.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mohammad-Zeyad Marie ◽  
Sana SaadAdeen ◽  
Maher Battat

Abstract Background The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. Most people who experience such events recover from it; however, people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be severely depressed and anxious for several months or even years following the event. Palestinians are particularly at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders and PTSD due to the continuous exposure to political violence, prolonged displacement, and other limitation on professional, educational, financial opportunities, and mental health services. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the literature and established studies concerning Anxiety disorders besides PTSD in Palestine.Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar was used to search for materials for the critical analysis of empirical articles. The following aspects were taken into consideration: study type, sample, and key findings.Results In this review, we included about twenty-four studies from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza). Five studies relate to children, five relate to adolescents, three relate to women, three relate to physical diseases, and four relate to gender and age differences. Results show that anxiety disorders and PTSD are one of the most common mental disorders in Palestine. Anxiety and PTSD develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, personality, and life events. They are mostly associated with low quality of life and disability. The results indicate that a significant proportion of Palestinian experiencing serious issues that deal with several challenges, distinct barriers including; inconsistent availability of medications, absence of multidisciplinary teamwork, insufficient specialists, fragmented mental health system, and occupation.Conclusion As primary prevention, the occupation has to have considered as the main source of anxiety and other mental health disorders in Palestine. Besides, there is a need to implement a mental health care system through multidisciplinary work and raising awareness regarding the prevalence of mental disorders.


2021 ◽  
pp. 767-794
Author(s):  
Charlotte Hanlon ◽  
Asnake Limenhe

Suicide and deliberate self-harm?, Acute behavioural disturbance?, Common mental disorders?, Severe mental disorders psychoses?, Disorders due to substance abuse?, Withdrawal states?, Adjustment disorders and bereavement?, Post-traumatic stress disorder?, Intellectual learning disability?, Disorders in children and adolescents?


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Marie ◽  
Sana SaadAdeen ◽  
Maher Battat

Abstract Background The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. Most people who experience such events recover from it; however, people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be severely depressed and anxious for several months or even years following the event. Palestinians are particularly at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders and PTSD due to the continuous exposure to political violence, prolonged displacement, and other limitation on professional, educational, financial opportunities, and mental health services. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the literature and established studies concerning Anxiety disorders besides PTSD in Palestine. Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar was used to search for materials for the critical analysis of empirical articles. The following aspects were taken into consideration: study type, sample, and key findings. Results In this review, we included about twenty-four studies from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza). Five studies relate to children, five relate to adolescents, three relate to women, three relate to physical diseases, and four relate to gender and age differences. Results show that anxiety disorders and PTSD are one of the most common mental disorders in Palestine. Anxiety and PTSD develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, personality, and life events. They are mostly associated with low quality of life and disability. The results indicate that a significant proportion of Palestinian experiencing serious issues that deal with several challenges, distinct barriers including; inconsistent availability of medications, absence of multidisciplinary teamwork, insufficient specialists, fragmented mental health system, and occupation. Conclusion As primary prevention, the occupation has to have considered as the main source of anxiety and other mental health disorders in Palestine. Besides, there is a need to implement a mental health care system through multidisciplinary work and raising awareness regarding the prevalence of mental disorders.


2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Weich ◽  
Liz Twigg ◽  
Glyn Lewis

BackgroundSome UK studies have reported an urban excess in the prevalence of the most common mental disorders of anxiety and depression.AimsTo investigate rural/non-rural differences in the onset and maintenance of episodes of common mental disorders, after adjusting for the characteristics of respondents and their households.MethodA 12-month cohort study of 7659 adults aged 16–74 years living in 4338 private households, nested within 626 electoral wards in England, Wales and Scotland. Common mental disorders were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Electoral wards were characterised by Office for National Statistics classification and by population density. Data were analysed using multilevel statistical modelling.ResultsRural residents had slightly better mental health than non-rural counterparts. The effects of geographical location on the mental health of participants were neither significantly confounded nor modified by socioeconomic status, employment status or household income.ConclusionsThere are small but statistically significant differences in rates of common mental disorders between urban and rural residents. Quantifying between-place differences using population density alone risks missing important contextual effects on mental health.


2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 2037-2045 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jokela ◽  
G. D. Batty ◽  
M. Kivimäki

BackgroundAgeing is an important factor in the development of mental health problems and their treatment. We assessed age trajectories of common mental disorders (CMDs) and psychotherapy utilization from adolescence to old age, and examined whether these trajectories were modified by time period or birth cohort effects.MethodBritish Household Panel Survey (BHPS) with an 18-year follow-up between 1991 and 2009 (n = 30 224 participants, aged 15–100 years, with an average 7.3 person-observations per person). CMDs were assessed with the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Psychotherapy treatment utilization during the past year was self-reported by the participants. The modifying influences of time period and cohort effects were assessed in a cohort-sequential longitudinal setting.ResultsFollowing a moderate decrease after age 50, the prevalence of GHQ caseness increased steeply from age 75. This increase was more marked in the 2000s (GHQ prevalence increasing from 24% to 43%) than in the 1990s (from 22% to 34%). Psychotherapy utilization decreased after age 55, with no time period or cohort effects modifying the age trajectory. These ageing patterns were replicated in within-individual longitudinal analysis.ConclusionsOld age is associated with higher risk of CMDs, and this association has become more marked during the past two decades. Ageing is also associated with an increasing discrepancy between prevalence of mental disorders and provision of treatment, as indicated by lower use of psychotherapy in older individuals.


Author(s):  
Roxanne Gaspersz ◽  
Monique H.W. Frings-Dresen ◽  
Judith K. Sluiter

Abstract Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess common mental disorders and the related use and need for mental health care among clinically not yet active and clinically active medical students. Methods: All medical students (n=2266) at one Dutch medical university were approached. Students from study years 1–4 were defined as clinically not yet active and students from study years 5 and 6 as clinically active. An electronic survey was used to detect common mental disorders depression (BSI-DEP), anxiety (BSI-ANG), stress (4DSQ) and post-traumatic stress disorder (IES). The use of mental health services in the past 3 months and the need for mental health services were asked for. The prevalence of common mental disorders, the use and need for mental health services and differences between groups were calculated. Results: The response rate was 52%: 814 clinically not yet active and 316 clinically active students. The prevalence of common mental disorders among clinically not yet active and clinically active students was 54% and 48%, respectively. The use of mental health services was 14% in clinically not yet active and 12% in clinically active students with common mental disorders (n.s.). The need for mental health services by clinically not yet active and clinically active students was 52% and 46%, respectively (n.s.). Conclusions: The prevalence of probable common mental disorders are higher among clinically not yet active than among clinically active students. The need of mental health services exceeds use, but is the same in the two groups of students.


Author(s):  
Elina Mauramo ◽  
Tea Lallukka ◽  
Minna Mänty ◽  
Hilla Sumanen ◽  
Olli Pietiläinen ◽  
...  

Sickness absence is associated with poor health outcomes, but little is known about its consequences for general mental health. This study examined the associations between diagnosis-specific sickness absence and subsequent common mental disorders (CMD). Register data on medically certified all-cause sickness absence and sickness absence due to mental disorders and musculoskeletal diseases from 2004–2007 were linked to the Helsinki Health Study 2007 and 2012 survey data on City of Helsinki employees in Finland (N = 3560). Using logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression, we analysed the associations between the total number of reimbursed sickness absence days in 2004-7 and CMD General Health Questionnaire 12) in 2007 and 2012 and CMD changes. Sickness absence due to mental disorders (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR)range: 2.16 to 2.93), musculoskeletal diseases (OR range: 2.79 to 2.93) and all-cause sickness absence (OR range: 1.48 to 3.20) were associated with CMD in 2007. In 2012, associations with lower ORs were observed. Associations were also found with changing and especially repeated (OR range: 1.49 to 3.40) CMD. The associations remained after adjusting for work-related covariates and health behaviours. Diagnosis-specific sickness absence showed persistent associations with subsequent CMD and their changes. Attention should be paid to both the short- and long-term consequences of sickness absence for employee mental health.


2005 ◽  
Vol 186 (6) ◽  
pp. 480-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Iversen ◽  
Claire Dyson ◽  
Naomi Smith ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
Rebecca Walwyn ◽  
...  

BackgroundLittle is known about the psychological health or treatment experiences of those who have left the British armed forces.AimsTo describe the frequency and associations of common mental disorders and help-seeking behaviours in a representative sample of UK veterans at high risk of mental health problems.MethodA cross-sectional telephone survey of 496 ‘vulnerable’ ex-service personnel selected from an existing epidemiological military cohort.ResultsThe response rate was 64%; 44% of these had a psychiatric diagnosis, most commonly depression. Those with a diagnosis were more likely to be of lower rank and divorced or separated. Just over half of those with self-reported mental health problems were currently seeking help, most from their general practitioners. Most help-seekers received treatment, usually medication; 28% were in touch with a service charity and 4% were receiving cognitive-behavioural therapy.ConclusionsDepression is more common than post-traumatic stress disorder in UK ex-service personnel. Only about half of those who have a diagnosis are seeking help currently, and few see specialists.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mohammad-Zeyad Marie ◽  
Sana Asad Mohammad SaadAdeen ◽  
Maher Mohammad Khalil Battat

Abstract Background The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. Most people who experience such events recover from them, but people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be severely depressed and anxious for months or even years following the event. Palestinians are especially at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders and PTSD due to their chronic exposure to political violence, prolonged displacement, and others as a limited professional, educational, financial opportunities, and mental health services. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the literature and established studies concerning Anxiety disorders besides PTSD in Palestine.Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar was used to search for materials, for the critical analysis of empirical articles, the following aspects were considered: study type, sample, and the key findings. Results Twenty-four studies from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) were included in this review. Five studies related to children, five related to Adolescent, three related to women, three related to physical diseased and four related to gender and age differences.Results showed that anxiety disorders and PTSD were one of the most common mental disorders in Palestine. Anxiety and PTSD develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, personality, and life events. They are highly associated with poor quality of life and disability. The results indicate that a significant proportion of Palestinian experiencing serious psychological distress especially anxiety and PTSD. Therefore, a mental health policy for Palestinians must deal with several challenges. Distinct barriers including inconsistent availability of medications, absence of multidisciplinary teamwork, insufficient specialists, fragmented mental health system, and occupation need to be addressed.Conclusion As a primary prevention, the occupation should be considered as a main source of the anxiety and other mental health disorders in Palestine. Besides, there is a need to implement mental health care system through the multidisciplinary work and raising awareness regarding prevalent of mental disorders.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mohammad-Zeyad Marie ◽  
Sana SaadAdeen ◽  
Maher Battat

Abstract Background The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. Most people who experience such events recover from them, but people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be severely depressed and anxious for months or even years following the event. Palestinians are especially at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders and PTSD due to their chronic exposure to political violence, prolonged displacement, and others as a limited professional, educational, financial opportunities, and mental health services. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the literature and established studies concerning Anxiety disorders besides PTSD in Palestine.Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar was used to search for materials, for the critical analysis of empirical articles, the following aspects were considered: study type, sample, and the key findings.Results Twenty-four studies from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) were included in this review. Five studies related to children, five related to Adolescent, three related to women, three related to physical diseases and four related to gender and age differences . Results showed that anxiety disorders and PTSD were one of the most common mental disorders in Palestine. Anxiety and PTSD develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, personality, and life events. They are highly associated with poor quality of life and disability. The results indicate that a significant proportion of Palestinian experiencing serious psychological distress especially anxiety and PTSD. Therefore, a mental health policy for Palestinians must deal with several challenges. Distinct barriers including inconsistent availability of medications, absence of multidisciplinary teamwork, insufficient specialists, fragmented mental health system, and occupation need to be addressed.Conclusion As a primary prevention, occupation has to be considered as a main source of the anxiety and other mental health disorders in Palestine. Besides, there is a need to implement mental health care system through the multidisciplinary work and raising awareness regarding prevalent of mental disorders.


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