Abstract
Background The mental health outcomes of military personnel deployed on peacekeeping missions have been relatively neglected in the military mental health literature. Aims To assess the mental health impacts of peacekeeping deployments. Method In total, 1025 Australian peacekeepers were assessed for current and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses, service history and exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs). A matched Australian community sample was used as a comparator. Univariate and regression analyses were conducted to explore predictors of psychiatric diagnosis. Results Peacekeepers had significantly higher 12-month prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (16.8%), major depressive episode (7%), generalised anxiety disorder (4.7%), alcohol misuse (12%), alcohol dependence (11.3%) and suicidal ideation (10.7%) when compared with the civilian comparator. The presence of these psychiatric disorders was most strongly and consistently associated with exposure to PTEs. Conclusions Veteran peacekeepers had significant levels of psychiatric morbidity. Their needs, alongside those of combat veterans, should be recognised within military mental health initiatives.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 32-37 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | BJPsych Open |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2016 |
Cite this
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The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping : Prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder. / Forbes, David; O'Donnell, Meaghan; Brand, Rachel M.; Korn, Sam; Creamer, Mark; McFarlane, Alexander C.; Sim, Malcolm R.; Forbes, Andrew B.; Hawthorne, Graeme.
In: BJPsych Open, Vol. 2, No. 1, 01.01.2016, p. 32-37.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping
T2 - Prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder
AU - Forbes, David
AU - O'Donnell, Meaghan
AU - Brand, Rachel M.
AU - Korn, Sam
AU - Creamer, Mark
AU - McFarlane, Alexander C.
AU - Sim, Malcolm R.
AU - Forbes, Andrew B.
AU - Hawthorne, Graeme
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Background The mental health outcomes of military personnel deployed on peacekeeping missions have been relatively neglected in the military mental health literature. Aims To assess the mental health impacts of peacekeeping deployments. Method In total, 1025 Australian peacekeepers were assessed for current and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses, service history and exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs). A matched Australian community sample was used as a comparator. Univariate and regression analyses were conducted to explore predictors of psychiatric diagnosis. Results Peacekeepers had significantly higher 12-month prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (16.8%), major depressive episode (7%), generalised anxiety disorder (4.7%), alcohol misuse (12%), alcohol dependence (11.3%) and suicidal ideation (10.7%) when compared with the civilian comparator. The presence of these psychiatric disorders was most strongly and consistently associated with exposure to PTEs. Conclusions Veteran peacekeepers had significant levels of psychiatric morbidity. Their needs, alongside those of combat veterans, should be recognised within military mental health initiatives.
AB - Background The mental health outcomes of military personnel deployed on peacekeeping missions have been relatively neglected in the military mental health literature. Aims To assess the mental health impacts of peacekeeping deployments. Method In total, 1025 Australian peacekeepers were assessed for current and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses, service history and exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs). A matched Australian community sample was used as a comparator. Univariate and regression analyses were conducted to explore predictors of psychiatric diagnosis. Results Peacekeepers had significantly higher 12-month prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (16.8%), major depressive episode (7%), generalised anxiety disorder (4.7%), alcohol misuse (12%), alcohol dependence (11.3%) and suicidal ideation (10.7%) when compared with the civilian comparator. The presence of these psychiatric disorders was most strongly and consistently associated with exposure to PTEs. Conclusions Veteran peacekeepers had significant levels of psychiatric morbidity. Their needs, alongside those of combat veterans, should be recognised within military mental health initiatives.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962210393&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321
DO - 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321
M3 - Article
VL - 2
SP - 32
EP - 37
JO - British journal of psychiatry open
JF - British journal of psychiatry open
SN - 2056-4724
IS - 1
ER -