scholarly journals Mental health outcomes in US and UK military personnel returning from Iraq

2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefin Sundin ◽  
Richard K. Herrell ◽  
Charles W. Hoge ◽  
Nicola T. Fear ◽  
Amy B. Adler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Combat Exposure ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol Consumption

BackgroundResearch of military personnel who deployed to the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan has suggested that there are differences in mental health outcomes between UK and US military personnel.AimsTo compare the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hazardous alcohol consumption, aggressive behaviour and multiple physical symptoms in US and UK military personnel deployed to Iraq.MethodData were from one US (n= 1560) and one UK (n= 313) study of post-deployment military health of army personnel who had deployed to Iraq during 2007–2008. Analyses were stratified by high- and low-combat exposure.ResultsSignificant differences in combat exposure and sociodemographics were observed between US and UK personnel; controlling for these variables accounted for the difference in prevalence of PTSD, but not in the total symptom level scores. Levels of hazardous alcohol consumption (low-combat exposure: odds ratio (OR) = 0.13, 95% CI 0.07–0.21; high-combat exposure: OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.14–0.39) and aggression (low-combat exposure: OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.19–0.68) were significantly lower in US compared with UK personnel. There was no difference in multiple physical symptoms.ConclusionsDifferences in self-reported combat exposures explain most of the differences in reported prevalence of PTSD. Adjusting for self-reported combat exposures and sociodemographics did not explain differences in hazardous alcohol consumption or aggression.

scholarly journals Potential impact of physical distancing on physical and mental health: a rapid narrative umbrella review of meta-analyses on the link between social connection and health

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042335
Author(s):  
Nexhmedin Morina ◽  
Ahlke Kip ◽  
Thole Hilko Hoppen ◽  
Stefan Priebe ◽  
Thomas Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundThe imperative for physical distancing (mostly referred to as social distancing) during COVID-19 pandemic may deteriorate physical and mental health. We aimed at summarising the strength of evidence in the published literature on the association of physical and mental health with social connection via social isolation, living alone and loneliness.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search in April 2020 to identify meta-analyses using the Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included terms of social isolation, loneliness, living alone and meta-analysis. Eligible meta-analyses needed to report any sort of association between an indicator of social connection and any physical or mental health outcome. The findings were summarised in a narrative synthesis.ResultsTwenty-five meta-analyses met our criteria, of which 10 focused on physical health and 15 on mental health outcomes. The results suggest that lack of social connection is associated with chronic physical symptoms, frailty, coronary heart disease, malnutrition, hospital readmission, reduced vaccine uptake, early mortality, depression, social anxiety, psychosis, cognitive impairment in later life and suicidal ideation.ConclusionsThe existing evidence clearly indicates that social connection is associated with a range of poor physical and mental health outcomes. A potential negative impact on these outcomes needs to be considered in future decisions on physical distancing measures.

Insomnia severity, combat exposure and mental health outcomes

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Wright ◽  
Thomas W. Britt ◽  
Paul D. Bliese ◽  
Amy B. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Combat Exposure ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Insomnia Severity

scholarly journals Mental Health, Sexual Orientation, and Perceived Social Network Support in Relation to Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Among Active Duty Military Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 155798832097630
Author(s):  
Cheríe S. Blair ◽  
Shannon Dunlap ◽  
Michael Tzen ◽  
Carl A. Castro ◽  
Jeremy T. Goldbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Interaction Analysis ◽  
Network Support ◽  
Social Network Support ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol ◽  
Hazardous Alcohol Consumption

Knowledge surrounding perceived network support and alcohol consumption among active duty U.S. military personnel is limited, particularly among sexual minorities. We sought to determine the correlates of hazardous alcohol consumption and whether perceived network support moderated the relationship between sexual orientation and Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT-C) score. The sample comprised cisgender men currently serving in the U.S. military ( N = 292). Participants were recruited through respondent-driven sampling and completed an online survey. Logistic regression analysis evaluated associations between positive AUDIT-C with sociodemographic characteristics (including sexual orientation), military service, mental health, and perceived social network support. Interaction analysis assessed the moderating effect of perceived network support on sexual orientation and AUDIT-C. Among study participants, 52.7% (154/292) had positive AUDIT-C, while 65.4% (191/292) self-identified as heterosexual/straight and 34.6% (101/292) identified as gay or bisexual. In adjusted analysis, positive AUDIT-C was associated with increased post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] 1.03; 95% CI [1.00, 1.06]; p = .019) and high perceived network support (adjOR 1.85; 95% CI [1.04, 3.29]; p = .036), while mental health service utilization had reduced odds of positive AUDIT-C (adjOR 0.40; 95% CI [0.20, 0.78]; p = .007). In interaction analysis, high perceived network support was associated with increased odds of positive AUDIT-C among sexual minority men (adjOR 3.09; 95% CI [1.21, 7.93]; p = .019) but not heterosexual men (adjOR 1.38; 95% CI [0.68, 2.81]; p = .37). Hazardous alcohol use was prevalent among all men in our sample. Perceived social network support may influence hazardous alcohol consumption, particularly among sexual minority servicemen. These findings suggest the potential role of tailored social network-based interventions to decrease hazardous alcohol use among military personnel.

scholarly journals Differences in the reporting of mental health outcomes between US and UK military personnel

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. A49-A49
Author(s):  
J. Sundin ◽  
N. T. Fear ◽  
N. Greenberg ◽  
S. Wessely
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes

scholarly journals Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression of survivors 12 months after the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye Yoon Park ◽  
Wan Beom Park ◽  
So Hee Lee ◽  
Jeong Lan Kim ◽  
Jung Jae Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract Background: The 2015 outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the Republic of Korea is a recent and representative occurrence of nationwide outbreaks of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs). In addition to physical symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are common following outbreaks of EID.Methods: The present study investigated the long-term mental health outcomes and related risk factors in survivors of MERS. A prospective nationwide cohort study was conducted 12 months after the MERS outbreak at multi-centers throughout Korea. PTSD and depression as the main mental health outcomes were assessed with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean version (IES-R-K) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) respectively.Results: 42.9% of survivors reported PTSD (IES-R-K ≥ 25) and 27.0% reported depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) at 12 months post-MERS. A multivariate analysis revealed that anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.76; 95%CI, 1.29–25.58; P = 0.021), and a greater recognition of stigma (aOR, 11.09, 95%CI, 2.28–53.90; P = 0.003) during the MERS-affected period were independent predictors of PTSD at 12 months after the MERS outbreak. Having a family member who died from MERS predicted the development of depression (aOR, 12.08, 95%CI, 1.47–99.19; P = 0.020).Conclusion: This finding implies that psychosocial factors, particularly during the outbreak phase, influenced the mental health of patients over a long-term period. Mental health support among the infected subjects and efforts to reduce stigma may improve recovery from psychological distress in an EID outbreak.

scholarly journals Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression of survivors 12 months after the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye Yoon Park ◽  
Wan Beom Park ◽  
So Hee Lee ◽  
Jeong Lan Kim ◽  
Jung Jae Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract Background: The 2015 outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the Republic of Korea is a recent and representative occurrence of nationwide outbreaks of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) . In addition to physical symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are common following outbreaks of EID. Methods: The present study investigated the long-term mental health outcomes and related risk factors in survivors of MERS. A prospective nationwide cohort study was conducted 12 months after the MERS outbreak at multi-centers throughout Korea. PTSD and depression as the main mental health outcomes were assessed with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean version (IES-R-K) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) respectively. Results: 42.9% of survivors reported PTSD (IES-R-K ≥ 25) and 27.0% reported depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) at 12 months post-MERS. A multivariate analysis revealed that anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.76; 95%CI, 1.29–25.58; P = 0.021), and a greater recognition of stigma (aOR, 11.09, 95%CI, 2.28–53.90; P = 0.003) during the MERS-affected period were independent predictors of PTSD at 12 months after the MERS outbreak. Having a family member who died from MERS predicted the development of depression (aOR, 12.08, 95%CI, 1.47–99.19; P = 0.020). Conclusion: This finding implies that psychosocial factors, particularly during the outbreak phase, influenced the mental health of patients over a long-term period. Mental health support among the infected subjects and efforts to reduce stigma may improve recovery from psychological distress in an EID outbreak.

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