The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder

David Forbes; Meaghan O'Donnell; Rachel M Brand; Sam Korn; Mark Creamer; Alexander C McFarlane; Malcolm R Sim; Andrew B Forbes; Graeme Hawthorne

doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321

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The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder

David Forbes, Meaghan O'Donnell, Rachel M Brand, Sam Korn, Mark Creamer, Alexander C McFarlane, Malcolm R Sim, Andrew B Forbes and Graeme Hawthorne

BJPsych Open, Vol.2(1), pp.32-37

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321

PMCID: PMC4995565

PMID: 27703751

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Abstract

The mental health outcomes of military personnel deployed on peacekeeping missions have been relatively neglected in the military mental health literature. To assess the mental health impacts of peacekeeping deployments. 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. 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. Veteran peacekeepers had significant levels of psychiatric morbidity. Their needs, alongside those of combat veterans, should be recognised within military mental health initiatives. None. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.

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Title: The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder
Authors: David Forbes (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Meaghan O'Donnell (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Rachel M Brand (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Sam Korn (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Mark Creamer (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Alexander C McFarlane (Author) - The University of Adelaide
Malcolm R Sim (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Andrew B Forbes (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Graeme Hawthorne (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Publication details: BJPsych Open, Vol.2(1), pp.32-37
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2016
DOI: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321
ISSN: 2056-4724; 2056-4724
PMID: 27703751; PMC4995565
Copyright note: Copyright (C) 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99513808502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Psychiatry

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