TY - JOUR
T1 - Deployment-related stress and trauma in Dutch soldiers returning from Iraq: Prospective study
AU - Engelhard, I.M.
AU - van den Hout, M.A.
AU - Weerts, J.
AU - Arntz, A.R.
AU - Hox, J.C.M.
AU - McNally, R.
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - Background Some questionnaire studies have shown increased mental health problems, including probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in soldiers deployed to Iraq. Aims To test prospectively whether such problems change over time and whether questionnaires provide accurate estimates of deployment-related PTSD compared with a clinical interview. Methods Dutch infantry troops from three cohorts completed questionnaires before deployment to Iraq (n=479), and about 5 months (n=382, 80%) and 15 months (n=331, 69%) thereafter. Posttraumatic stress disorder was evaluated by questionnaire and clinical interview. Results There were no group changes for general distress symptoms. The rates of PTSD for each cohort were 21, 4 and 6% based on questionnaires at 5 months. The deployment-related rates of PTSD based on the clinical interview were 4,3 and 3%. Conclusions There was a specific effect of deployment on mental health for a small minority Questionnaires eliciting stress symptoms gave substantial overestimations of the rate of PTSD.
AB - Background Some questionnaire studies have shown increased mental health problems, including probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in soldiers deployed to Iraq. Aims To test prospectively whether such problems change over time and whether questionnaires provide accurate estimates of deployment-related PTSD compared with a clinical interview. Methods Dutch infantry troops from three cohorts completed questionnaires before deployment to Iraq (n=479), and about 5 months (n=382, 80%) and 15 months (n=331, 69%) thereafter. Posttraumatic stress disorder was evaluated by questionnaire and clinical interview. Results There were no group changes for general distress symptoms. The rates of PTSD for each cohort were 21, 4 and 6% based on questionnaires at 5 months. The deployment-related rates of PTSD based on the clinical interview were 4,3 and 3%. Conclusions There was a specific effect of deployment on mental health for a small minority Questionnaires eliciting stress symptoms gave substantial overestimations of the rate of PTSD.
U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.034884
DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.034884
M3 - Article
C2 - 17666498
SN - 0144-6657
VL - 191
SP - 140
EP - 145
JO - British Journal of Clinical Psychology
JF - British Journal of Clinical Psychology
IS - 2
ER -