@article{ref1,
title="Forward psychiatry - early intervention for mental health problems among UK armed forces in Afghanistan",
journal="European psychiatry",
year="2016",
author="Jones, Norman and Fear, N. T. and Wessely, Simon and Thandi, G. and Greenberg, N.",
volume="39",
number="",
pages="66-72",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This observational study examined return to duty (RTD) rates following receipt of early mental health interventions delivered by deployed mental health practitioners. <br><br>METHOD: In-depth clinical interviews were conducted among 975 UK military personnel referred for mental health assessment whilst deployed in Afghanistan. Socio-demographic, military, operational, clinical and therapy outcomes were recorded in an electronic health record database. Rates and predictors of EVAC were the main outcomes examined using adjusted binary logistic regression analyses. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall 74.8% (n=729) of personnel RTD on completion of care. Of those that underwent evacuation home (n=246), 69.1% (n=170) returned by aeromedical evacuation; the remainder returned home using routine air transport. Predictors of evacuation included; inability to adjust to the operational environment, family psychiatric history, previously experiencing trauma and thinking about or carrying out acts of deliberate self-harm. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Deployed mental health practitioners helped to facilitate RTD for three quarters of mental health casualties who consulted with them during deployment; psychological rather than combat-related factors predicted evacuation home.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0924-9338",
doi="10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.05.009",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.05.009"
}