title: Psychiatric lessons learned in Kandahar.
abstract: Not since the Korean War have the Canadian Forces engaged in combat missions like those in Afghanistan. Combat, asymmetric warfare, violent insurgency and the constant threat of improvised explosive devices all contribute to the psychological stressors experienced by Canadian soldiers. Mental health teams deployed with the soldiers and provided assessment, treatment and education. Lessons learned included refuting the myth that all psychological disorders would be related to trauma; confirming that most patients do well after exposure to trauma; confirming that treating disorders in a war zone requires flexible and creative adaptation of civilian treatment guidelines; and confirming that in a combat mission mental health practice is not limited to the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Forces Health Services, Directorate of Mental Health, 1745 Alta Vista Dr., Ottawa, Ontario. rakesh.jetly@forces.gc.ca
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jetly
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000346:Afghanistan; D002170:Canada; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008890:Military Psychiatry; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological
references.citation: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994 Jan;51(1):8-19
references.pmid: 8279933