title: Irritable bowel syndrome in the UK military after deployment to Iraq: what are the risk factors?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diarrhoea and vomiting (D & V) was common in military personnel during deployment to the initial phases of the Iraq war. D & V is an established risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study examined the prevalence of IBS in a military sample with a history of deployment to Iraq and the association between D & V and common mental disorder (CMD) with IBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used data from a two-phase cohort study of military/personnel. The sample was restricted to individuals who had been deployed to Iraq before phase 1 of the study and who had completed the self-report D & V question. A measure of probable IBS was derived at both phases of the study based on self-reported symptoms in the previous month. CMD was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine percent of the sample reported a D & V event and 6.6 % met the criteria for probable IBS at phase 1. Reporting D & V, thinking one might be killed on deployment, poor physical health and CMD were associated with probable IBS at phase 1. CMD at phase 1 was strongly associated with chronic symptoms of IBS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high prevalence of D & V during deployment to the early stages of the Iraq war, yet the prevalence of probable IBS on return from deployment was relatively low. D & V was strongly associated with IBS after deployment, and CMD was a risk factor for chronic symptoms of IBS.
authors: King's Centre for Military Health Research, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, SE5 9RJ, UK, laura.goodwin@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Goodwin
authors: Julius H
authors: JH
authors: Bourke
authors: Harriet
authors: H
authors: Forbes
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Hotopf
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Hull
authors: Norman
authors: N
authors: Jones
authors: Roberto J
authors: RJ
authors: Rona
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Wessely
authors: Nicola T
authors: NT
authors: Fear
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
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