Norman Jones1, Nicola T Fear, Neil Greenberg, Lisa Hull, Simon Wessely. 1. Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK. norman.jones@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the longer term occupational outcome in UK military personnel who require hospital-based treatment for mental health problems. AIMS: To examine the documented occupational outcomes following hospital-based treatment for mental health problems within the British Army. METHODS: Hospital admission records were linked to occupational outcome data from a database used for personnel administration. RESULTS: A total of 384 records were identified that were then linked to occupational outcome after an episode of hospitalization. Seventy-four per cent of those admitted to hospital with mental health problems were discharged from the Army prematurely, and 73% of the discharges occurred in the first year following hospitalization. Discharge from the Army was associated with holding a junior rank, completing <5 years military service, having a combat role, being male and receiving community mental health team treatment prior to admission. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization for a mental health problem in a military context is associated with a low rate of retention in service. Outcome was not influenced greatly by duration of hospital stay; however, those who reported receiving individual rather than group-based therapy while in hospital appeared to do better.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the longer term occupational outcome in UK military personnel who require hospital-based treatment for mental health problems. AIMS: To examine the documented occupational outcomes following hospital-based treatment for mental health problems within the British Army. METHODS: Hospital admission records were linked to occupational outcome data from a database used for personnel administration. RESULTS: A total of 384 records were identified that were then linked to occupational outcome after an episode of hospitalization. Seventy-four per cent of those admitted to hospital with mental health problems were discharged from the Army prematurely, and 73% of the discharges occurred in the first year following hospitalization. Discharge from the Army was associated with holding a junior rank, completing <5 years military service, having a combat role, being male and receiving community mental health team treatment prior to admission. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization for a mental health problem in a military context is associated with a low rate of retention in service. Outcome was not influenced greatly by duration of hospital stay; however, those who reported receiving individual rather than group-based therapy while in hospital appeared to do better.
Authors: Charles W Hoge; Carl A Castro; Stephen C Messer; Dennis McGurk; Dave I Cotting; Robert L Koffman Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-07-01 Impact factor: 91.245
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