Examination of military personnel’s changed psychological states during long-term deployment in a war zone

Examining military personnel’s psychological states is an effective way to prevent negative mental health consequences during their deployment in a war zone. The present study identifies changes in the psychological states of military personnel (n = 192) during a 6-month deployment in a war zone in eastern Ukraine. The results confirmed both of our proposed hypotheses. First, with regard to time limits on military personnel’s deployment on the front lines in eastern Ukraine on the basis of examined psychological states, the estimated recommended deployment duration was three months. Second, we found significant differences in the dynamics of the psychological states of service members with versus without previous deployment experience. The results also substantiate that military personnel’s psychological states should be monitored during deployment in order to prevent negative mental health consequences and to ensure that military units successfully accomplish their tasks. Una de las formas más eficaces para prevenir las consecuencias negativas del despliegue en la zona militar para la salud mental de los militares es diagnosticar su estado psicológico. En el presente estudio se determinan las particularidades de los cambios en el estado psicológico de los militares (n = 192) durante el despliegue de seis meses en la zona militar en el este de Ucrania. Los resultados obtenidos confirmaron ambas hipótesis formuladas: en cuanto a la posibilidad de determinar, sobre la base del diagnóstico del estado psicológico, el plazo recomendado para el despliegue de los militares en la línea de demarcación en el este de Ucrania, que es de tres meses. Así como también sobre las posibles diferencias significativas en la dinámica del estado psicológico de los militares que tienen y no tienen experiencia en el despliegue. Asimismo, se argumenta la necesidad de monitorear el estado psicológico de los militares durante el despliegue con el propósito de prevenir oportunamente las consecuencias negativas para su salud mental y para la ejecución exitosa de las tareas de la subunidad militar.

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Mental health consequences of home demolition policy towered Palestinians: Literature review

International Journal of Mental Health Systems ◽

10.1186/s13033-021-00472-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammed Marie ◽

Sana SaadAdeen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Critical Analysis ◽

Educational Opportunities ◽

Housing Conditions ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Low Incomes ◽

Family Home ◽

Study Type ◽

Type Sample

Abstract Abstract Home demolition is considered a miserable and frequent reality of life for thousands of Palestinian people. Recently, in January 2020, at least 44 structures were demolished by Israeli forces, displacing at least 87 people. Studies have revealed high levels of stress was associated with losing a family home during home demolition, and the stress doesn’t only carry out immediate effects but also long-term mental consequences. This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature and established studies related to the mental health consequences of home demolitions in Palestine. Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Semantic Scholar and Google Scholar were 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, nine studies related to mental health consequences of home demolition were found and considered in this paper. The results indicate depression, stress, anxiety, phobias and lack of hope in the future are mutual themes running throughout the lives of those Palestinian families who have actually experienced home demolition along with those who have experienced a constant threat of demolition to their homes. In addition, many of life stressors such as lack of educational opportunities, low incomes, and a tendency to live in poor housing conditions after and before demolition also play a role in developing serious mental disorders. Conclusion As primary prevention, the practice of home demolition in Palestine has to be ended. In addition to conduct a constant monitoring of the resulting displacement and the damage caused, and ensuring the necessary assistance in particular mental health and psychological support for victims of home demolitions.

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Aspiring to Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens? Quixotic Hope, Religiosity, and Mental Health in Emerging Adulthood

Society and Mental Health ◽

10.1177/21568693211008505 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 215686932110085

Author(s):

Laura Upenieks

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Well Being ◽

Educational Expectations ◽

Religious Practice ◽

The United States ◽

Religious Attendance ◽

National Study ◽

Health Consequences

Beliefs about the probability of educational success tend to be very optimistic in the United States. However, scholars are beginning to uncover mental health consequences associated with quixotic hope—the unrealistic outstripping of expectation by aspiration. Using longitudinal data from Waves 1 and 3 of the National Study of Youth and Religion, this study asks, (1) does religiosity promote or diminish the likelihood of quixotic hope? and (2) does religious attendance and closeness to God mitigate long-term mental health consequences of quixotic hope? Results show that weekly religious attendance had a modest negative relationship with the likelihood of experiencing quixotic hope, while increasing religious attendance over time attenuated the negative mental health consequences of quixotic hope on increases in depression. Closeness to God neither predicted quixotic hope nor played a moderating role for depression. As educational expectations rise, regular religious practice may help protect the emotional well-being of youth.

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The Influence of Social Support on Dyadic Functioning and Mental Health Among Military Personnel During Postdeployment Reintegration

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/0033354916679984 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 132 (1) ◽

pp. 85-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Julie A. Cederbaum ◽

Sherrie L. Wilcox ◽

Kathrine Sullivan ◽

Carrie Lucas ◽

Ashley Schuyler

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Military Service ◽

Well Being ◽

Service Members ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Military Leaders ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Symptoms Of Depression

Objectives: Although many service members successfully cope with exposure to stress and traumatic experiences, others have symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety; contextual factors may account for the variability in outcomes from these experiences. This work sought to understand mechanisms through which social support influences the mental health of service members and whether dyadic functioning mediates this relationship. Methods: We collected cross-sectional data as part of a larger study conducted in 2013; 321 military personnel who had at least 1 deployment were included in these analyses. Surveys were completed online; we collected data on demographic characteristics, social support, mental health measures (depression, PTSD, and anxiety), and dyadic functioning. We performed process modeling through mediation analysis. Results: The direct effects of social support on the mental health of military personnel were limited; however, across all types of support networks, greater social support was significantly associated with better dyadic functioning. Dyadic functioning mediated the relationships between social support and depression/PTSD only when social support came from nonmilitary friends or family; dyadic functioning mediated social support and anxiety only when support came from family. We found no indirect effects of support from military peers or military leaders. Conclusion: Findings here highlight the need to continue to explore ways in which social support, particularly from family and nonmilitary-connected peers, can bolster healthy intimate partner relationships and, in turn, improve the well-being of military service members who are deployed.

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Epidemiological manifestations of respiratory system diseases among military personnel of central military region

Perm Medical Journal ◽

10.17816/pmj38524-34 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 24-34

Author(s):

Ivan S. Mukhachev ◽

Irina V. Feldblium ◽

Dmitriy A. Stolyarov ◽

Maya Kh. Alyeva

Keyword(s):

Respiratory System ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Respiratory Diseases ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽

The Third ◽

The Military ◽

Military Units

Objective. To assess the epidemiological manifestations of the incidence of respiratory system diseases (RSD) among the military personnel of the military units of the Central Military Region. Materials and methods. The morbidity analysis was carried out according to official statistics for 20032019 with an assessment of long-term dynamics, structure and spatial characteristics. Results. Despite the preventive measures taken, the incidence of respiratory diseases in the troops remains high and continues to grow. The conscript servicemen are at risk. In the structure of RSD incidence, acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) take the leading place, tonsillitis and bronchitis are in the second place, and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is in the third place. Differences in the trends of long-term dynamics of morbidity in various clinical forms of RSD were revealed. The Siberian Federal Region is the most favorable regarding RSD incidence. Conclusions. The incidence of respiratory diseases among conscripts is higher than that in contract servicemen, with downward trend for CAP and growth for ARVI and bronchitis.

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Predictors of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Personnel Deployed to Peacekeeping Missions

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1313 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S724-S724

Author(s):

S. Giorgi ◽

N. Guguahsvili ◽

T. Oniani ◽

G. Kanaldarishvili ◽

E. Lelashvili

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Service Members ◽

Depression Symptom ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Competing Interest ◽

International Peacekeeping ◽

Peacekeeping Missions

BackgroundThe following study shows that PTSD, depression and anxiety present actual and urgent problem in military field. These disorders appear to be highly co-morbid that results in much more complicated treatment process and outcome. Service members of Georgian armed forces participate in various international peacekeeping operations on the regular basis, though there are no researches conducted so far to provide evidence for mental health problem prevalence in Georgian deployed military personnel.MethodCollection of the data took place during the period of 2014–2015 years after six months of service members returning from the international peacekeeping mission back to their homes. The sample for this research were represented by 2799 servicemen who actively engaged in ISAF peacekeeping missions. All of them were male, with average age: M = 29.3 (SD = 6.3). The data for the following research were collected using self-administered assessment measures, namely PCL-5 for PTSD screening and PHQ for depression and Anxiety and somatic complaints assessment.ResultsPTSD appeared to be significantly predicted by range/level of anxiety and depression symptom urgency, nevertheless after joint/combine integration of these variables in one regressional equation, just symptoms of depression remained as statistically reliable explanatory factor for the significant percentage of the somatic symptom range variation.ConclusionIt would be wise to recommend mental health care specialists particularly to bear in mind the possibility of co-existing depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with PTSD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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The Long-Term Mental Health Consequences of Torture, Loss, and Insecurity: A Qualitative Study Among Survivors of Armed Conflict in the Dang District of Nepal

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00941 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Author(s):

Hanna Kienzler ◽

Ram P. Sapkota

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Armed Conflict ◽

Health Consequences

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The long term occupational fitness of UK military personnel following community mental health care

Journal of Mental Health ◽

10.1080/09638237.2017.1340596 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 142-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Norman Jones ◽

Nicola T. Fear ◽

Simon Wessely ◽

Gursimran Thandi ◽

Neil Greenberg

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Community Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Community Mental Health Care

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The long-term mental health outcome of adolescent with depression and alcohol abuse comorbidity

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.609 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

S Brolin Låftman ◽

R Ssegonja ◽

I Alaie ◽

U Jonsson ◽

H Bohman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Structured Diagnostic Interview

Abstract Background Alcohol abuse often co-occurs with adolescent depression and about 1-2% suffer from the dual diagnosis in adolescence. This group is often undertreated or receive inadequate treatment for either of the conditions. Both conditions affect the developing brain and poor long-term outcome might be a potential risk. Yet, long-term follow-up studies are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyse if adolescent depression and alcohol abuse predict poorer mental health in adulthood compared to individuals without either or both conditions. Methods A community-based sample of individuals with adolescent depression in 1991-93 and matched non-depressed peers were followed up using a structured diagnostic interview after 15 years. The participation rate was 65% (depressed n = 227; non-depressed controls n = 155). Information on alcohol abuse in adolescence was collected at baseline with a structured interview. The outcome was mental disorders between the ages 19-31 years; information on depression and alcohol abuse was collected at the follow-up with a structured diagnostic interview. The statistical method used was binary logistic regression. Results Adolescents with depression and alcohol abuse had an excess risk of recurrence of depression (OR 2.12, p < 0.05) and alcohol abuse (OR 6.72, p < 0.01) in adulthood, compared with adolescents with depression only, even when adjusted for confounders. Adolescents with alcohol abuse only had not significantly worse long-term outcome compared with their healthy peers. Conclusions The co-occurrence of depression and alcohol abuse in adolescence is associated with long-lasting health consequences compared to either condition alone. This finding indicates that there is a need to prioritize this group of patients that is at risk of suboptimal treatment, and to further develop effective treatment adjusted to the co-occurring condition. Key messages The co-occurrence of adolescent depression and alcohol abuse has long lasting mental health consequences compared to either condition alone. Improved treatment methods are important for this group of adolescents.

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