[Military service with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: adaptability of affected soldiers on active service in the German Armed Forces].
BACKGROUND
Due to various stressors, soldiers need a high level of social functioning. In those with ADHS, psychological problems and thus a disability for duty can result.


METHODS
Thirty-six German Armed Forces members with ADHS who presented themselves as outpatients or inpatients in the Army Hospitals of Hamburg and Berlin between 2005 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively and compared with a control group. The adaptability during duty was defined based on five criteria and statistical correlations with psychological status and psychosocial risk factors of the soldiers were evaluated.


RESULTS
Of the soldiers with ADHS, 55.6% were able to continue their duty. Cumulative adaptability problems in the Army were significantly correlated with aggressive and dissocial symptoms and with partnership problems. The control group showed no correlations.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that adult ADHS does not automatically prevent a soldier from military duty and thus indicate that a differentiated judgement should be preferred.
Zimmermann
P
P
Abteilung für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychotraumatologie, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus, Berlin, Deutschland. plzimmermann@aol.com
Jenuwein
M
M
Biesold
K H
KH
Heinz
A
A
Ströhle
A
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
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