What happens to the mental health of UK service personnel after they return home from Afghanistan?
OBJECTIVE
Fear et al identified a small but significant increase in probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK military personnel from around 3% in first year post deployment to around 6% by year 5. As yet it is not clear what factors are linked to the increase in probable PTSD, and therefore, serial measurement of poor mental health would be helpful.


METHODS
Rates of mental ill health among UK service personnel were compared upon deployment completion and at follow-up and identified factors associated with maladjustment.


RESULTS
Poor mental health symptomatology increased from baseline to follow-up, PTSD symptoms and related functional impairment increased significantly. Poor baseline mental health was predictive of transition and family relationship difficulties.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are discussed in relation to encouraging recognition and reporting of symptoms among personnel and their social networks.
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Elizabeth
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5138-5535
E
Banwell
Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK.
N
N
Greenberg
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
P
P
Smith
Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK.
N
N
Jones
Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK.
M
M
Fertout
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
Homecoming; MENTAL HEALTH; PTSD; Transition