title: Families of returned defence force personnel: a changing landscape of challenges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to identify the key challenges experienced by the families of defence force personnel following deployment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a selective review of four post-deployment challenges to the families of defence force personnel: (1) changes to relationships; (2) changes to family member roles and responsibilities; (3) adjustment of children and parenting challenges; and (4) anger, family conflict and violence. Emerging issues in the area of post-deployment adjustment are also discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Empirical studies of post-deployment family adjustment are lacking. Each of the reviewed challenges can contribute to psychological difficulties and precipitate contact with mental health services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The challenges faced by defence force personnel when returning from deployment arise within a family context. Clinicians should thoroughly assess these factors in families following deployment, but also recognise family strengths and resilience to these challenges.
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow in Trauma and Mental Health, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia Randwick, NSW, and; St John of God Healthcare, Richmond Hospital, Australia d.berle@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berle
authors.affiliation: St John of God Professorial Chair in Trauma and Mental Health, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Randwick, NSW, and; St John of God Healthcare, Richmond Hospital and Black Dog Institute, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Steel
mesh_terms: D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: deployment; family; military; parenting; reintegration; veterans