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Forbes D, O'Donnell M, Brand RM, et al. The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder. BJPsych Open. 2016;2(1):32-37doi: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321.
Forbes, D., O'Donnell, M., Brand, R. M., Korn, S., Creamer, M., McFarlane, A. C., Sim, M. R., Forbes, A. B., & Hawthorne, G. (2016). The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder. BJPsych open, 2(1), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321
Forbes, David, et al. "The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder." BJPsych open vol. 2,1 (2016): 32-37. doi: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321
Forbes D, O'Donnell M, Brand RM, Korn S, Creamer M, McFarlane AC, Sim MR, Forbes AB, Hawthorne G. The long-term mental health impact of peacekeeping: prevalence and predictors of psychiatric disorder. BJPsych Open. 2016 Jan 20;2(1):32-37. doi: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321. eCollection 2016 Jan. PMID: 27703751; PMCID: PMC4995565.
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BJPsych Open. 2016 Jan 20;2(1):32-37. doi: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321. eCollection 2016 Jan.

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

BJPsych open

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

Affiliations

  1. , PhD.
  2. , DClinPsy, Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  3. , PhD, Mental Health Evaluation Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  4. , PhD, Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  5. , AO, MD, FRANZCP, Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
  6. , PhD, Monash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  7. (deceased), PhD, Mental Health Evaluation Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 27703751 PMCID: PMC4995565 DOI: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.001321

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.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None.

COPYRIGHT AND USAGE: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.

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