BMJ 2006;333:1123 (25 November).
Letters
Predicting mental illness in soldiers
Pre-deployment screening for vulnerability to post- traumatic stress disorder
By: Ferhal Utku, Ken Checinski, senior lecturer in addictive behaviour
That post-traumatic stress disorder (and other mental disorders) are difficult to predict, with the implication that ex-service personnel are likely to present to civilian mental health services with such conditions.
Post-trauma debriefing is possibly harmful, so service personnel need vigilant monitoring for mental disorder after the fact.
This is particularly important when they leave the protective group environment provided by military life.
PS: I Know these are American soldiers but it illustrates very well how dangerous and stressfull life in a war zone can be.
[...] asehley created an interesting post today on PREDICTING MENTAL ILLNESS IN SOLDIERS PART THREE.Here’s a short outline:That post-traumatic stress disorder (and other mental disorders) are difficult to predict, with the implication that ex-service personnel are likely to present to civilian mental health services with such conditions. … [...]