title: [Psychological strain following foreign assignment - results of an investigation among German soldiers serving in ISAF VII].
abstract: We present results of an investigation dealing with psychological strain in soldiers following a foreign assignment. There are few studies in German-speaking countries concerned with prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder in soldiers. A total of 118 soldiers were questioned (age: 20 - 46; 2,6 % female). The following questionnaires were used in the survey: Essener Trauma Inventory (ETI), Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (PTSS-10), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Symptom Check List 27 (SCL-27), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D) and Breslau's short screening scale for PTSD. Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in soldiers following foreign assignment ranged from 0.8 % to 2.5 % depending on the Scale used. 19.5 % had symptoms of depression or dysthymia. 15 % had an alcohol syndrome according to den PHQ-D. Contrary to our expectations the PTSD prevalence was lower than in the general population or other military samples.
authors.affiliation: Selbstständige Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig. robinhauffa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauffa
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Biesold
authors.forename: Sefik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tagay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*