title: Prevention and management of panic in personnel facing a chemical threat--lessons from the Gulf War.
abstract: During the Gulf War a number of subjects presented with panic, hyperventilation, and inability to wear respirators when chemical alarms were sounded, despite a perceived real chemical threat. Twenty-five such sufferers were seen at the Psychiatric Department of 33 General (Surgical) Hospital. This paper considers the aetiology of such responses, describes a mode of treatment which can be used in the threat situation, and considers issues of future training.
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, Woolwich.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002618:Chemical Warfare; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000517:prevention & control; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011482:Protective Devices; D011592:Psychology, Military