Explanations for the increase in mental health problems in UK reserve forces who have served in Iraq.
BACKGROUND
Deployment to the 2003 Iraq War was associated with ill health in reserve armed forces personnel.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate reasons for the excess of ill health in reservists.


METHODS
UK personnel who were deployed to the 2003 Iraq War completed a health survey about experiences on deployment to Iraq. Health status was measured using self-report of common mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fatigue, physical symptoms and well-being.


RESULTS
Reservists were older and of higher rank than the regular forces. They reported higher exposure to traumatic experiences, lower unit cohesion, more problems adjusting to homecoming and lower marital satisfaction. Most health outcomes could be explained by role, experience of traumatic events or unit cohesion in theatre. PTSD symptoms were the one exception and were paradoxically most powerfully affected by differences in problems at home rather than events in Iraq.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased ill-health of reservists appears to be due to experiences on deployment and difficulties with homecoming.
Browne
Tess
T
King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College, UK.
Hull
Lisa
L
Horn
Oded
O
Jones
Margaret
M
Murphy
Dominic
D
Fear
Nicola T
NT
Greenberg
Neil
N
French
Claire
C
Rona
Roberto J
RJ
Wessely
Simon
S
Hotopf
Matthew
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom