Comparing post-deployment mental health services utilization in soldiers deployed to Balkan, Iraq and Afghanistan

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparing post-deployment mental health services utilization in soldiers deployed to Balkan, Iraq and Afghanistan

AU - Madsen, T

AU - Sadowa Vedtofte, M

AU - Nordentoft, M

AU - Ravnborg Nissen, L

AU - Bo Andersen, S

N1 - © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2017/6

Y1 - 2017/6

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Insight on how different missions have impacted rates of mental health service (MHS) utilization is unexplored. We compared postdeployment MHS utilization in a national cohort of first-time deployed to missions in Balkan, Iraq, and Afghanistan respectively.METHODS: A prospective national cohort study of 13 246 first-time deployed in the period 1996 through 2012 to missions in Balkan area, Iraq, or Afghanistan respectively. Soldiers 'MHS utilization was also compared with a 5:1 sex-, age-, and calendar year-matched never-deployed background population. Postdeployment utilization of MHS was retrieved from national coverage registers. Using Cox survival analyses, participants were followed and compared with regard to receiving three different types of psychiatric services: (i) admission to psychiatric hospital, (ii) psychiatric outpatient contact, and (iii) prescriptions of psychotropics.RESULTS: Utilizing of psychiatric outpatient services and psychotropics was significantly higher in first-time deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan compared with deployed to Balkan. However, the rate of postdeployment admission to psychiatric hospital did not differ between missions. Postdeployment rates of psychiatric admission and psychiatric outpatient treatment were significantly higher in Afghanistan-deployed personnel compared with the background population.CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of MHS differed significantly between mission areas and was highest after the latest mission to Afghanistan.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Insight on how different missions have impacted rates of mental health service (MHS) utilization is unexplored. We compared postdeployment MHS utilization in a national cohort of first-time deployed to missions in Balkan, Iraq, and Afghanistan respectively.METHODS: A prospective national cohort study of 13 246 first-time deployed in the period 1996 through 2012 to missions in Balkan area, Iraq, or Afghanistan respectively. Soldiers 'MHS utilization was also compared with a 5:1 sex-, age-, and calendar year-matched never-deployed background population. Postdeployment utilization of MHS was retrieved from national coverage registers. Using Cox survival analyses, participants were followed and compared with regard to receiving three different types of psychiatric services: (i) admission to psychiatric hospital, (ii) psychiatric outpatient contact, and (iii) prescriptions of psychotropics.RESULTS: Utilizing of psychiatric outpatient services and psychotropics was significantly higher in first-time deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan compared with deployed to Balkan. However, the rate of postdeployment admission to psychiatric hospital did not differ between missions. Postdeployment rates of psychiatric admission and psychiatric outpatient treatment were significantly higher in Afghanistan-deployed personnel compared with the background population.CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of MHS differed significantly between mission areas and was highest after the latest mission to Afghanistan.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1111/acps.12736

DO - 10.1111/acps.12736

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28466972

SN - 0065-1591

VL - 135

SP - 564

EP - 572

JO - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Supplement

JF - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Supplement

IS - 6

ER -