Mental health problems of Army personnel seen in medical outpatient clinics in Greece.
OBJECTIVE
The problem of the underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment of mental disorders in people who visit health services has been studied in Greece as well as in other countries. There is not, however, enough research data for military personnel. The purpose of the present study is to assess the psychiatric morbidity of military personnel referred to outpatient clinics for physical problems.


METHODS
Two hundred twenty-two (222) males serving in the Army, aged 21.9 +/- 2.8 years, were examined when they visited the outpatient clinics of a General Military Hospital of a border area of Greece. They gave information concerning demographic data, completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and were assessed by the psychiatric interview M.I.N.I. (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview).


RESULTS
Eighty-two out of 222 individuals (36.9%) were classified as GHQ cases. Enlisted men and personnel with chronic physical disabilities were classified more often as cases than were professionals and physically able military men. Those referred for fractures had fewer psychiatric problems than those referred for other reasons. The most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders, major depressive episode, and alcohol abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
A large number of military personnel present undiagnosed psychological problems despite attempts in the last few years by army services to develop mechanisms of timely diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric cases. Measures for the improvement of this situation are discussed.
Democritus University of Thrace and 492nd General Army Hospital.
Ioannis Th
IT
Argyropoulos
Maria A
MA
Samakouri
Dimitrios K
DK
Balascas
Melpomeni
M
Dalapascha
Dimitrios P
DP
Pallas
Miltos D
MD
Livaditis
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires