Assessment of an alternative postdeployment reintegration strategy with soldiers returning from Iraq.
The present study examined behavioral health outcomes, risk behaviors, aggression, alcohol misuse, marital satisfaction, and attitudes toward reintegration associated with an alternative, front-loaded reintegration strategy compared with a more standardized reintegration process in soldiers returning from combat deployments. The type of reintegration strategy used did not predict differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, alcohol misuse, aggression, and marital satisfaction, although slightly higher reports of risk behaviors were found in the unit using the standard reintegration approach even after controlling for demographic covariates and combat exposure. These findings may help guide leadership when making decisions regarding reintegration approaches in the future.
United States Army Medical Research Unit-Europe, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Maurice L
ML
Sipos
United States Army Medical Research Unit-Europe, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Heather M
HM
Foran
United States Army Medical Research Unit-Europe, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Michael D
MD
Wood
United States Army Medical Research Unit-Europe, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Kathleen M
KM
Wright
Department of Medical Readiness, Evans Army Community Hospital.
Vincent J
VJ
Barnhart
Military Psychiatry Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Lyndon A
LA
Riviere
United States Army Medical Research Unit-Europe, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Amy B
AB
Adler
D000328:Adult; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult