Life in and after the Armed Forces: social networks and mental health in the UK military.

This study focuses on the influence of structural aspects of social integration (social networks and social participation outside work) on mental health (common mental disorders (CMD), that is, depression and anxiety symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcohol misuse). This study examines differences in levels of social integration and associations between social integration and mental health among service leavers and personnel still in service. Data were collected from regular serving personnel (n=6,511) and regular service leavers (n=1,753), from a representative cohort study of the Armed Forces in the UK.

The long-term consequences of military deployment: a 5-year cohort study of United kingdom reservists deployed to Iraq in 2003.

Reserve and National Guard forces have been mobilized to an unprecedented degree in recent overseas conflicts. There is concern that rates of psychological problems may continue to rise for many years after deployment. The authors conducted a cohort study of 552 United Kingdom Reservists who deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 391 nondeployed Reservists.

Coming home: social functioning and the mental health of UK Reservists on return from deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Purpose: There is speculation that high rates of mental illness among Reservists returning from deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan may be due to the challenge of reintegrating into civilian life. We aimed to examine the postdeployment social functioning of Reservists and to explore the relationship between adverse postdeployment experiences and subsequent mental ill health.

Methods: A sample of 4,991 UK military personnel who had deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan were asked about their postdeployment experiences with a particular focus on their levels of social integration, perceived support from the military, and civilian employment.

The impact of the conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan: a UK perspective.

Concerns about the mental health of military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan has led to a new generation of research. This review is an examination of the UK literature on the mental health consequences of deployment of armed forces personnel to Iraq and Afghanistan. As yet, deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan has not been associated with a general increase in mental health problems for the UK Armed Forces.

The impact of culture clash on deployed troops.

Culture plays a crucial role in the military, helping the armed forces achieve their goals. However, cultural issues can negatively affect personnel's well-being and effectiveness, especially when there is a "clash" between military and other cultures. The literature suggests there should be more training and education on individual service cultures, as well as other countries' military cultures to improve cooperation and coordination during joint operations and working in multinational forces.

How communication with families can both help and hinder service members' mental health and occupational effectiveness on deployment.

Communication with home can be beneficial to deployed service members' mental health, morale, and occupational effectiveness. Conversely a lack of communication with home increases the risk of developing mental health problems. Therefore it is important to ensure that communications media is both affordable and accessible while on deployment.

The impact of deployment length on the health and well-being of military personnel: a systematic review of the literature.

To determine the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of deployment length and a 'mismatch' between the expected and actual length of deployments on the health and well-being of military personnel in order to draw relevant conclusions for all organisations that deploy personnel to conflict zones. A systematic review was conducted of studies measuring deployment length to theatres of operations and the issue of 'mismatch' between expected and actual tour lengths. The nine studies included were rated for quality.

What are the consequences of deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on the mental health of the UK armed forces? A cohort study.

Background: Concerns have been raised about the psychological effect of continued combat exposure and of repeated deployments. We examined the consequences of deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on the mental health of UK armed forces from 2003 to 2009, the effect of multiple deployments, and time since return from deployment.

Methods: We reassessed the prevalence of probable mental disorders in participants of our previous study (2003-05).

Rewarding and unrewarding aspects of deployment to Iraq and its association with psychological health in UK military personnel.

Purpose: Research into how individuals perceive their deployment experiences is important for understanding the association between stressful events and subsequent positive or negative effects. This study examines perceptions among UK military personnel with regard to rewarding and unrewarding aspects of deployment in Iraq.

Methods: Analyses were carried out on 5,573 UK military personnel who had deployed to Iraq between 2003 and 2006.

Transition back into civilian life: a study of personnel leaving the U.K. armed forces via "military prison".

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with poor outcomes for personnel leaving the United Kingdom Armed Forces early.

Method: We studied a population thought to be at high risk of poor outcomes: those leaving the Services early via the United Kingdom Military Corrective Training Centre. Participants were interviewed 1 week before leaving (predischarge) and followed up 6 months later.

Serving in Bosnia made me appreciate living in Bristol: stressful experiences, attitudes, and psychological needs of members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces.

Peacekeeping operations form an increasing part of the role of the U.K. Armed Forces.

The health of UK military personnel who deployed to the 2003 Iraq war: a cohort study.

Background: Concerns have been raised about the mental and physical health of UK military personnel who deployed to the 2003 war in Iraq and subsequent tours of duty in the country.

Methods: We compared health outcomes in a random sample of UK armed forces personnel who were deployed to the 2003 Iraq war with those in personnel who were not deployed. Participants completed a questionnaire covering the nature of the deployment and health outcomes, which included symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, common mental disorders, general wellbeing, alcohol consumption, physical symptoms, and fatigue.

UK armed forces responses to an informed consent policy for anthrax vaccination: a paradoxical effect?

Background: In recognition of concerns that anthrax vaccination might be a trigger for "Gulf war syndrome", anthrax vaccinations were offered to UK armed forces in the 2003 Iraq conflict using explicit as opposed to implicit consent, as is the policy for all other vaccinations. This paper examines responses of personnel to this policy.

Methods: Qualitative analysis of free text responses to a question inviting comments on any concerns about the anthrax vaccination, asked in the context of a questionnaire assessing military health amongst 1000 members of the UK armed forces following the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

'Goodbye and good luck': the mental health needs and treatment experiences of British ex-service personnel.

Background: Little is known about the psychological health or treatment experiences of those who have left the British armed forces.

Aims: To 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.

Method: A cross-sectional telephone survey of 496 'vulnerable' ex-service personnel selected from an existing epidemiological military cohort.

What happens to British veterans when they leave the armed forces?

Background: Little is known about the factors associated with leaving the armed forces, or what predicts subsequent employment success for veterans. It is likely that there is a complex interaction of adverse social outcomes and mental health status in this group.

Method: Analysis of existing data from the King's Military Cohort, a large, randomly selected, longitudinal cohort of service personnel, many of whom have now left the armed forces.