title: Coming home: social functioning and the mental health of UK Reservists on return from deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is speculation that high rates of mental illness among Reservists returning from deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan may be due to the challenge of reintegrating into civilian life. We aimed to examine the postdeployment social functioning of Reservists and to explore the relationship between adverse postdeployment experiences and subsequent mental ill health.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 4,991 UK military personnel who had deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan were asked about their postdeployment experiences with a particular focus on their levels of social integration, perceived support from the military, and civilian employment. All participants were asked to complete a series of validated measures of mental health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with Regular personnel, Reservists were more likely to feel unsupported by the military and to have difficulties with social functioning in the postdeployment period. Perceived lack of support from the military was associated with increased reporting of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol misuse. Low levels of non-military postdeployment social support and participation were associated with increased reporting of common mental disorder, probable PTSD, and alcohol misuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many Reservists find the transition from military deployment to civilian life difficult. Differences in postdeployment experiences may explain some of the increased rates of mental ill health among Reservists.
authors: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. samuel.b.harvey@kcl.ac.uk
authors: Samuel B
authors: SB
authors: Harvey
authors: Stephani L
authors: SL
authors: Hatch
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Jones
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Hull
authors: Norman
authors: N
authors: Jones
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Greenberg
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Dandeker
authors: Nicola T
authors: NT
authors: Fear
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Wessely
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000346:Afghanistan; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult