Combat stress casualties in Iraq. Part 1: behavioral health consultation at an expeditionary medical group.
OBJECTIVE
We review the role of military mental health professionals in consulting with inpatient medical patients and staff at a combat hospital and aeromedical evacuation staging facility in Iraq.


CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral health consultation with medical and surgical patients during hospitalization and prior to aeromedical evacuation can help identify patients with combat stress exposure that may require future mental health follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Extensive use of civilian mental health practitioners including nurse psychotherapists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will be needed to provide psychiatric care for the large number of U.S. veterans who return from deployment with combat stress related disorders.
Peterson
Alan L
AL
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center, and Center for Clinical Health Psychology Research, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA. petersona3@uthscsa.edu
Baker
Monty T
MT
McCarthy
Kelly R
KR
D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D008890:Military Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration; D017146:Models, Organizational; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014218:Triage; D014481:United States